The Ofwat Innovation Fund has supported a wide range of innovative initiatives with the potential to deliver transformational benefits for water customers, society and the environment.
To receive funding, an initiative must align with one or more of the Fund’s innovation themes, and specific information about all of our funded projects is available on the winners page.
The below illustrations provide examples of the types of innovations supported by the Fund to date. Click on the blue icons below to learn more.
Long range forecasting
Improving long-range weather forecasting in an increasingly unreliable climate to predict floods, droughts and storms that can overwhelm the wastewater network.
Environmental data modelling
Modelling the impacts of pollution through open-access sensor data on river health, to identify the main causes (for example nitrate run-off from agriculture in high-chalk regions) and implement positive changes.
Environmental data modelling
Modelling the impacts of pollution through open-access sensor data on river health, to identify the main causes (for example nitrate run-off from agriculture in high-chalk regions) and implement positive changes.
Open data
Using open-data to identify and model the impacts of habitat degradation in the diverse ecosystems that a healthy water sector is reliant on, to generate a more holistic approach to water and environmental management.
Sensors
Using sensors and harnessing open data to build standardised digital twins of the complex mains water and wastewater networks to live-monitor them and identify where they could benefit from innovation.
Open data
Real-time, standardised, open data sharing between water companies to improve the identification of leaks, water quality issues, pollution incidents and vulnerable customers in need of support.
Open data
Real-time, standardised, open data sharing between water companies to improve the identification of leaks, water quality issues, pollution incidents and vulnerable customers in need of support.
Bioresources
Trading bioresources extracted from sewage, using data and analytics to build a dynamic market for a relatively untapped resource.
Sensors
Using sensors and harnessing open data to build standardised digital twins of the complex mains water and wastewater networks to live-monitor them and identify where they could benefit from innovation.
Sensors
High-density and high-accuracy sensor networks across the drinking water network providing real-time data to companies and customers, replacing manual randomised sampling.
Sensors
High-density and high-accuracy sensor networks across the drinking water network providing real-time data to companies and customers, replacing manual randomised sampling.
Genetic sequencing
Rapid genetic sequencing of drinking water to improve the speed and accuracy of water quality investigations, saving millions of pounds a year.
Sensors
High-density and high-accuracy sensor networks across the drinking water network providing real-time data to companies and customers, replacing manual randomised sampling.
DNA analysis
Improving reservoir water quality and enhancing the surrounding environment using forensic techniques such as DNA identification of algal blooms.
Capturing and converting waste
Capturing solid waste such as plastics, wet wipes and other “unflushables” that enter the wastewater network, and converting it into a source of energy at a local level.
Capturing and converting waste
Capturing solid waste such as plastics, wet wipes and other “unflushables” that enter the wastewater network, and converting it into a source of energy at a local level.
Biogas and hydrogen
Converting biogas generated by sewage into a source of hydrogen to be used in the electricity network and to power zero emission vehicles.
Capturing agricultural waste and run-off
Scaled bio-engineering solutions to capture fertilisers from agricultural run-off that enters the water system, including phosphorus, to use once again as fertilisers in the food industry.
Support to reduce consumption
Technological innovations to support, and education projects to promote, behaviour changes and consumption choices to help customers reduce water and energy usage in their homes.
Identifying customers who need support
Working with utility providers and local authorities to actively identify customers who are vulnerable, or may be struggling.
Open data
Secure sharing of data between utility providers so that a vulnerable customer only need to ask one for help in order to access support from all.
Open data
Secure sharing of data between utility providers so that a vulnerable customer only need to ask one for help in order to access support from all.
Open data
Secure sharing of data between utility providers so that a vulnerable customer only need to ask one for help in order to access support from all.
Open data
Secure sharing of data between utility providers so that a vulnerable customer only need to ask one for help in order to access support from all.
Nature-based solutions
Nature-based and engineering solutions that capture rainwater and slow its entry into the wastewater network to prevent it becoming overwhelmed.
Integrated water management
Integrating water smart solutions in new and existing communities to reduce the risks of flooding and to better cope with drought – such as new building design and public realm choices.
Sensor technologies
Next generation sensor technology can help pinpoint leaks – including the 50% of leaks classified as background leakage – leaks so small that current technological solutions, such as sound-monitoring, cannot detect.
Infrastructure to support collaboration
Initiatives like the National Leakage and Research Test Centre will enable new technologies to be tested in an as-real environment to make roll-out of new solutions to the national water network safe, fast and assured.
Infrastructure to support collaboration
Initiatives like the National Leakage and Research Test Centre will enable new technologies to be tested in an as-real environment to make roll-out of new solutions to the national water network safe, fast and assured.
Infrastructure to support collaboration
Initiatives like the National Leakage and Research Test Centre will enable new technologies to be tested in an as-real environment to make roll-out of new solutions to the national water network safe, fast and assured.
Infrastructure to support collaboration
Initiatives like the National Leakage and Research Test Centre will enable new technologies to be tested in an as-real environment to make roll-out of new solutions to the national water network safe, fast and assured.
Infrastructure to support collaboration
Initiatives like the National Leakage and Research Test Centre will enable new technologies to be tested in an as-real environment to make roll-out of new solutions to the national water network safe, fast and assured.
Sensor technologies
Next generation sensor technology can help pinpoint leaks – including the 50% of leaks classified as background leakage – leaks so small that current technological solutions, such as sound-monitoring, cannot detect.
Robotics
Robotic solutions to monitor and repair mains and wastewater pipes from the inside, without having to dig pipes up for inspection.
Robotics
Robotic solutions to monitor and repair mains and wastewater pipes from the inside, without having to dig pipes up for inspection.
Artificial intelligence (AI) and sensors
Using rapidly evolving developments in AI connected to a network of high-density sensors in the wastewater networks to minimize the risk of flooding and sewage pollution.
Artificial intelligence (AI) and sensors
Using rapidly evolving developments in AI connected to a network of high-density sensors in the wastewater networks to minimize the risk of flooding and sewage pollution.
Artificial intelligence (AI) and sensors
Using rapidly evolving developments in AI connected to a network of high-density sensors in the wastewater networks to minimize the risk of flooding and sewage pollution.
Artificial intelligence (AI) and sensors
Using rapidly evolving developments in AI connected to a network of high-density sensors in the wastewater networks to minimize the risk of flooding and sewage pollution.
Artificial intelligence (AI) and sensors
Using rapidly evolving developments in AI connected to a network of high-density sensors in the wastewater networks to minimize the risk of flooding and sewage pollution.
Bio-engineering
Scaling bio-engineering solutions to remove chemicals like ammonia – a leading cause of nitrous oxide emissions – from wastewater to prevent it entering the natural environment.
Bio-engineering
Scaling bio-engineering solutions to remove chemicals like ammonia – a leading cause of nitrous oxide emissions – from wastewater to prevent it entering the natural environment.
Bio-engineering
Scaling bio-engineering solutions to remove chemicals like ammonia – a leading cause of nitrous oxide emissions – from wastewater to prevent it entering the natural environment.
Citizen science
Citizen science initiatives to engage local communities with their environment and their role in the water system.
Bio-engineering for wastewater treatment
Engineering natural biological processes to work at scale to remove toxic chemicals from wastewater without generating greenhouse gas emissions such as nitrous oxide.
Bio-engineering for wastewater treatment
Engineering natural biological processes to work at scale to remove toxic chemicals from wastewater without generating greenhouse gas emissions such as nitrous oxide.
Carbon capture, storage and conversion
New carbon capture technology to end the water sector’s CO2 emissions, including innovations to turn the captured carbon into new and useful products.
Nature-based solutions
Nature based solutions on land and at sea to build natural carbon sinks, like seagrass meadows, that also enhance biodiversity.
Nature-based solutions
Nature based solutions on land and at sea to build natural carbon sinks, like seagrass meadows, that also enhance biodiversity.
