Expert Q&A: tackling challenges in the UK water sector

The UK water industry is under enormous pressure to improve services while also facing significant financial difficulties. From achieving net zero emissions to preventing leaks, reducing use of storm overflows, tackling pollution and adapting to the impact of climate change, the list of challenges faced by the sector is daunting. 

The Ofwat Innovation Fund supports cross-sector collaborations to bring forward solutions that sit outside ‘business-as-usual’ in the water industry. Since 2020, the Fund has awarded over £150 million to 93 projects involving more than 240 partners. Previous winners have included robots that spot cracks from inside pipes, projects to turn sewage into a green source of hydrogen, to scrub phosphorus from wastewater and to repair pipes from the inside out. 

The Engineer caught up with some senior leaders involved in the Ofwat Innovation Fund to find out how it’s helping solve some of the biggest issues plaguing this vital sector.