Ofwat’s Innovation Fund has announced 17 winners from the fourth Water Breakthrough Challenge, a £40 million competition aimed at identifying solutions capable of driving significant, transformative change for customers, society, and the environment. Among the winners is Thames Water, recognized for its ‘No Dig Leak Repair’ concept, which employs advanced technologies like robotics to address leaks with minimal disruption.
Thames Water projects secured nearly half of the total funding, amounting to £16.9 million. The ‘No Dig Leak Repair’ initiative will utilize this funding to explore how trenchless repair methods and robotic technologies can effectively tackle leaks without the need for disruptive excavation.
Additional successful projects from Thames Water include a proposal to transform sludge into valuable products such as biochar, a plan to promote sustainable urban drainage, and an initiative to enhance the use of robotic technology for inspecting and repairing rising mains.
Nevil Muncaster, Engineering and Asset Director at Thames Water, stated, “We continuously seek to improve our operations for the benefit of our customers and the environment. This funding will be crucial in advancing some of our most innovative ideas, which have the potential to positively transform the water industry.”
Helen Campbell, Senior Director at Ofwat, commented, “The water industry faces significant challenges, some well-known and others less so. In this fourth Water Breakthrough Challenge, we sought solutions that could bring about wide-scale, transformative change, and today’s winners have delivered just that. From raingardens to combat flooding to green energy from treated sewage, these innovations are shaping a more sustainable and efficient water sector.”
The Water Breakthrough Challenge is part of a series of competitions organized by Ofwat, in collaboration with Challenge Works, Arup, and Isle Utilities, aimed at fostering innovation and cooperation in the sector for the benefit of individuals, society, and the environment. It supports initiatives addressing major challenges in the water sector, such as achieving net zero, protecting natural ecosystems, reducing leakage, and delivering societal value.
Source: Thames Water
