They are by no means the only example of advanced technologies supporting the water system: complex data collection mechanisms are used to monitor changing water quality, and soon, tiny robots that scan pipes from the inside will play a role in alerting companies to leaks.
Water companies provide drinking water and sewage services to over 50 million households in England and Wales, with a sewage network that could wrap around the world 13 times. But with large ageing pipelines operating in the context of increasing demand and climate change, the sector faces undeniable and urgent challenges that require action now. In order to ensure the water system is fit for today, and for the future, the sector requires bold thinking from innovators at the forefront of technology development who can bring the latest ideas from smart technology, the internet of things, and open data to tackle the problems it faces.
The Water Discovery Challenge, is a new £4m competition from Ofwat’s Innovation Fund – calling on innovators outside of the water sector with bold ideas that can help solve some of its biggest challenges. Ofwat is incentivising innovators working in data, technology and internet of things to apply their ingenuity and skills to deliver breakthrough solutions to be used by the water sector.
The competition is the latest from Ofwat’s £200 million Innovation Fund, which seeks to generate new ideas to tackle issues including managing leaks, preventing pollution, improving water efficiency, reducing emissions, boosting flood and drought resilience, prioritising sustainable practices, and supporting vulnerable customers. We need to respond and adapt to climate change, working towards clear common goals and ambitions.
How smart technology and data can revolutionise the water sector
Despite the technology already at play in our water systems, there is immense potential for intelligent and adaptable water-tech across the sector, be it to assist flood risk management, aid water treatment technology, or further improve services for customers.
Smart technology could be game-changing for leak management and maintenance, especially for inaccessible or remote locations. Equally, customers could benefit from internet of things based systems that could improve access to bills, and boost communication ease between them and their provider.
Ofwat’s Innovation Fund has already had a number of competition-winning innovations focused on technologies and data-based systems. Water Quality As-A-Service Treatment-2-Tap hope to be operating Europe’s largest integrated network of water quality and leakage management sensors and analytics software by the end of the project. The initiative is exploring how sensor technology could identify poor quality water, alerting companies ahead of customers and allowing them to tackle the issues causing the problem.
Similarly, open-data system Stream, will allow better insights into leaks, customer needs and accountability, making it easier to solve complex industry challenges. Stream will design and deliver the “network of data pipes” needed to share useful industry datasets in a secure, standardised and easy to access way. This will enable water companies to collaboratively solve tough sector challenges.
Other winning projects using data include Support for All, which seeks to put in place a shared register of financially vulnerable customers and Unlocking Digital Twins, which is creating virtual copies of physical datasets, that can be used in the same way as the real product.
How to enter the Water Discovery Challenge
Up to 20 teams of the most promising innovators will be awarded up to £50,000 to develop their ideas, with expert support and mentoring from water companies. Up to 10 will go on to win up to £450,000 to turn ideas into pilots.
To deliver the competition, Ofwat is working with innovation prize experts Challenge Works, alongside global engineering, sustainability and water sector experts Arup, and Isle Utilities. In addition to financial incentives, successful teams will benefit from expert mentoring and capacity-building support, including access to insights and mentoring from water companies and support for scaling solutions for the extensive water network in England and Wales.
The Water Discovery Challenge closes on 5 April 2023. To find out more and to enter, visit waterinnovation.challenges.org
Author details: Marc Hannis, Principal, Ofwat Innovation Fund
