Water Breakthrough Challenge – Now open for entries

Today, we are launching the Water Breakthrough Challenge to bring a new wave of innovation to the water sector.  

The Breakthrough Challenge aims to equip the water sector to address the big challenges facing the sector, driving far-reaching and long-lasting benefits to customers, society and the environment across England and Wales now and into the future. It encourages collaborative entries from other sectors and worldwide partners, and aims to fund initiatives that water companies would otherwise have been unable to invest in or explore. Winning entries will receive between £1 million and £10 million to support their initiatives. 

Last month, we revealed the Innovation in Water Challenge winners – the Fund’s inaugural £2 million innovation competition. They include initiatives such as planting and restoring seagrass meadows on the Essex and Suffolk coastlines; a scheme to turn ammonia in wastewater into green hydrogen gas; and software that can monitor the degradation of wildlife habitats. Other ideas focus on preventing leaks in the water network through the use of AI, CCTV, and unexploited optical fibre strands in telecoms networks, as well as using behavioural science to better support vulnerable customers.  

Building on this solid start, the Breakthrough Challenge now offers a chance to win up to £10 million to fund initiatives that water companies would otherwise be unable to invest in or explore – be they brand new concepts or drawing on innovations from other sectors of our economy and worldwide. 

Entries must demonstrate how solutions will help the water sector deliver for customers, considering areas such as achieving net zero, protecting natural ecosystems and reducing the impact of extreme weather, or the use of open data to improve customer service. 

The first stage of the competition opens today (6 May 2021) and closes on Thursday 3 June 2021. After a first assessment period following entries received by 3 June, selected entrants will be invited to submit more details from 28 June, with the winners announced in September 2021.  

As for the previous competition, water companies must be the lead entrants for all submitted entries but are encouraged to enter in partnership with organisations within and outside the water sector. These could include universities and institutes, retailers, start-ups, or small businesses from any sector, such as energy, manufacturing, health, or financial services. Partners for the winning entries to the Innovation in Water Challenge included environmental charities, engineering and construction businesses, and consumer groups. 

John Russell, Senior Director at Ofwat said: “Our innovation competitions are now in full swing and we are beginning to see a wave of innovation across the sector. Within the Breakthrough Challenge we are looking forward to seeing continued collaboration outside of the sector from a wide range of industries, and even more cutting-edge projects that tackle the greatest challenges facing our sector, and society as a whole.” 

The Water Breakthrough Challenge is funded through Ofwat’s £200 million Innovation Fund, as part of the regulator’s goal to drive innovation and collaboration in the water sector, supporting it to meet the needs of customers, society and the environment in the years to come. It is being delivered by Ofwat and Nesta Challenges, supported by Arup.

Chris Gorst, Director of Challenges at Nesta Challenges commented: “The winning innovations from the first Innovation in Water Challenge show that the sector is ready to address the major challenges facing the industry, and society. A new approach is needed, including new ways of working and greater collaboration, but we have already seen the sector can rise to the challenge and deliver ground-breaking initiatives that change the status quo. We are very excited to see the trailblazing projects that the water companies, and their partners, put forward for the latest competition.” 

For more information, including the Entrant Handbook, FAQs and how to enter, please visit the Breakthrough Challenge page.