South West Water is partnering on seven new pioneering projects designed to help tackle some of the biggest environmental and operational challenges facing the water sector.

The projects have been awarded funding through the Ofwat Innovation Fund’s sixth Water Breakthrough Challenge.

Together, they will explore how new technologies, data and nature-based solutions can improve river health, reduce pollution, strengthen resilience and support a lower-carbon future.

Working with partners across the UK, South West Water will help develop and trial innovative approaches to improving water quality and resilience.

Carolyn Cadman, Chief Sustainability and Natural Resources Officer at South West Water, said: “It is brilliant to be involved in such a wide range of innovation projects, especially those which are looking to nature and natural processes to solve our carbon and water management challenges.”

The projects will explore how technology, data and nature-based solutions can:

  • identify pollution risks earlier and improve understanding of river health
  • use natural filtration methods to remove pollutants from water
  • monitor rivers and coastal waters using satellite technology
  • find new ways to remove harmful chemicals and phosphorus from wastewater and agricultural run-off
  • improve how operational incidents are identified and managed
  • develop lower-carbon and less disruptive ways to repair and renew water infrastructure
  • turn wastewater by-products into valuable low-carbon materials and energy sources

Lauren Isbister, Mainstreaming Nature Based Solutions Project Manager at South West Water said: “We’re delighted that seven projects we are partnering on have been awarded funding. Innovation is essential to helping the water sector respond to some of the biggest environmental and operational challenges we face.”

“These projects bring together expertise from across industry, academia and environmental organisations to develop and test new approaches that could improve river health, strengthen resilience and support a more sustainable future for our region and the wider sector.”

The Ofwat Innovation Fund’s Water Breakthrough Challenge supports projects across England and Wales aimed at improving water quality, reducing pollution and accelerating innovation across the sector.

For more information about the projects visit https://waterinnovation.challenges.org/