News – News & UpdatesWater Discovery Challenge
February 20, 2024
From lightning, to AI, to green electricity; the first ever Water Discovery Challenge winners have been announced!
The Ofwat Innovation Fund are delighted to share the ten bold innovations which have worked their way to the top in the Water Discovery Challenge. Having launched in January 2023, this challenge seeks new, impactful ideas for the water sector. Our winners have been awarded a share of £4.5 million to demonstrate how bold solutions can help solve the biggest challenges facing our society’s water sector.
The winning technologies include the use of “lightning in a jar”, and a chemical process with only water and oxygen as byproducts, both under development as potential alternatives to chlorine in disinfecting drinking water. Such products have the potential to revolutionise water disinfection, removing the taste and smell of chlorine which is currently used in the process, as well as slashing the carbon footprint of the energy-intensive chemical.
Across the UK, over 15,000 million litres of water are cleaned daily. The water is treated to some of the strictest standards in the world and passes 99.97% of tests. Anamad, one of the winners, uses “lightning in a jar” – chemically known as cold plasma– to safely disinfect water, with much lower operating costs than chlorine. The technology – which looks like a strobe-lit coffee pot – requires no added chemicals or replacement parts and has low energy usage.
Other winning initiatives range from analysing water quality incident reports using AI; to decarbonising wastewater treatment with fuel cell technology, and with pressurised hot water; to repairing burst sewer pipes with innovative ‘spray on’ liners.
This competition was about reaching new innovators from outside the sector with different approaches and new ideas, and that’s exactly what the winners announced today are doing. The products and ideas recognised in this cross-sector challenge will equip water companies to better face challenges of the future – including achieving sustainability goals and meeting net zero targets – all while providing the highest-quality water for consumers.
Led by Mounce Hydrosmart Ltd and partners (University of Sheffield and RBMTS Ltd)
This project will analyse drinking water quality incident reports from water companies and other sources using the latest AI techniques to develop an interactive management tool and online portal benefiting the industry and its customers.
Led by Waterwhelm, in partnership with AtkinsRéalis
A new technology for desalination and water re-use that operates at low pressure, resulting in lower capital and maintenance costs. Powered by waste heat, this circular solution achieves the lowest-ever rate of electricity consumption and CO2 emissions.
Led by the School of Chemistry at University of St. Andrews
Researchers from the School of Chemistry at the University of St. Andrews are developing fuel cell technology to capture and destroy greenhouse gases at wastewater treatment sites and to simultaneously generate useful green electricity.
Led by Resimac Ltd partnered with Schur-BPH
Resimac Ltd has developed a rapid and cost-effective solution for rehabilitating rising sewer pipelines, combining spray lining techniques with cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) technology to create a fully structural liner inside the existing pipe and, in doing so, eliminating the need for extensive excavation during the rehabilitation process.
Led by Cranfield University
Optimising phosphorus removal and recovery from wastewater, addressing environmental concerns, and enhancing resource efficiency in wastewater treatment processes.
Led by Lancaster University
A new sustainable technology for dissolved organic carbon (DOC) removal at water treatment works, enhancing water quality and ensuring environmental sustainability by efficiently addressing organic contaminants in the water treatment process.
Led by ANAMAD Ltd with and partners (University of Southampton, Kingston University, and IEG)
Developed a cold plasma device that removes pharmaceuticals, pesticides and forever chemicals from water.
Led by ICMEA-UK and partners (Aston University and Costain Group PLC)
ICMEA-UK Ltd’s REvAR technology extracts energy from organic-rich wastewater (e.g. sewage sludge) in a sustainable and cost-efficient way. The technology is rapid, compact and creates an energy surplus and cleaner water.
Led by Cardiff University and Origin Aqua
Cardiff University together with Origin Aqua are replacing chlorination with hydrogen peroxide synthesis to provide a lower-energy and more efficient method of potable water disinfection.
Led by digiLab Solutions Limited
senSite UQ uses Uncertainty Quantification and AI optimisation techniques for sensor deployment and monitoring in the wastewater network, creating a cost-effective solution for water companies, suppliers and the supply chain.
Non-thermal plasma is a low-maintenance, affordable process designed to clean water by eliminating persistent and emerging pollutants from any source of water without generating a large carbon footprint. There is no waste created in the process and it ensures forever chemicals are removed before they enter the wider environment.
Unlike chlorine production, which is energy intensive, Freeox can be generated at point-of-use, reducing energy demand, while only creating water and oxygen byproducts- meaning there’s no chemical taste or smell. We’re excited to be upscaling and commercialising to test this game-changing technology which holds the potential to transform water treatment across the world.
References
Ofwat has established a £200 million Innovation Fund to grow the water sector’s capacity to innovate, enabling it to better meet the evolving needs of customers, society and the environment. It is encouraging new ways of working that go beyond business-as-usual innovation practices in the water industry, in particular, increasing and improving collaboration and building partnerships from within and outside the water sector.
The Innovation in Water Challenge, Water Breakthrough Challenge 1, Water Breakthrough Challenge 2, Water Breakthrough Challenge 3, Water Breakthrough Challenge 4, and Water Discovery Challenge were delivered by challenge prize experts Challenge Works in partnership with Arup and Isle Utilities. Following the first three of these (the pilot competitions), Ofwat received 40 submissions in response to its consultation about the future direction of the Fund. In July 2022 Ofwat set out its headline decisions on the approach we will take for the Innovation Fund for 2022-25. Alongside opening Water Breakthrough Challenge 3, Ofwat has published ‘Innovation fund – approach for 2022-25 companion decision document’, which sets out further information on the headline decisions.
Ofwat consulted on its proposal to extend the Innovation Fund beyond 2025 in ‘Creating tomorrow, together: consulting on our methodology for PR24’ and will now consider extending the Fund. Details will be decided later in 2023.
The Innovation Fund forms part of Ofwat’s approach to innovation in the water sector. Ofwat with the Environment Agency and Drinking Water Inspectorate also runs StreamLine, a joint service for innovators and businesses to get informal regulatory advice.
Challenge Works is a global leader in the design and delivery of high-impact challenge prizes that incentivise cutting-edge innovation for social good. In the last 10 years, we have run more than 80 prizes, distributed £84 million in funding and engaged with 12,000 innovators.
Challenge prizes champion open innovation through competition. We specify a problem that needs solving, but not what the solution should be. We offer large cash incentives to encourage diverse innovators to apply their ingenuity to solving the problem. The most promising solutions are rewarded with seed funding and expert capacity building support, so that they can prove their impact and effectiveness. The first or best innovation to solve the problem wins. This approach levels the playing field for unknown and previously untested innovators so that the best ideas, no matter their origin, are brought to bear on the most difficult of global challenges. Visit us at challengeworks.org
Dedicated to sustainable development, Arup is a collective of designers, consultants and experts working globally. Founded to be humane and excellent, we collaborate with our clients and partners using imagination, technology, and rigour to shape a better world. Together we help our clients solve their most complex challenges – turning exciting ideas into tangible reality as we strive to find a better way and shape a better world. With a community of over 1700 water professionals, Arup is leading global thinking across key areas like innovation, resilience, net zero carbon and sustainable water management. Find out more: www.arup.com
Isle is a global team of independent scientists, engineers, business and regulatory experts with a common drive to make a positive environmental, social and economic impact through the advancement of innovative technologies, solutions and practices. Our passion and expertise in technology and innovation enables us to connect expertise, investment and inspired ideas across the globe. At the core of all our activities is our ambition to make the world a better place. Find out more: www.isleutilities.com
