Competition: Breakthrough 2: Transform
Amount awarded: £5,319,913
Led by: Northumbrian Water
Partners: Water Research Centre, HR Wallingford, The University of Sheffield, Southampton University, Anglian Water, Thames Water, Severn Trent, Portsmouth Water, SES Water, United Utilities, Irish Water, Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, Northern Ireland Water, South East Water, Southern Water, Wessex Water, Yorkshire Water, British Water, Isle Utilities
Estimated completion date: June 2027
Water cycle tag: Water network
Water leakage is a serious environmental problem and it must be drastically reduced to protect water security. There are plenty of ideas to tackle leakage but development of solutions needs to be accelerated. The National Leakage Research and Test Centre will be a 5km buried water pipe network specifically for developing and testing inventions without disrupting customers’ supplies or affecting water quality. It allows things like repair robots and sealants to be inserted into the water supply to see how they perform. The centre’s staff will issue certifications to show water companies how well each innovation performs. The network will include new and old pipes in a variety of materials and diameters just like a live water network but it will allow researchers to insert and move deliberately leaky section of pipes. It will collect and recycle leaked water and will even simulate customers drawing water whilst tests are taking place. There is also scope for the centre to be used for training and other research.
“Establishing the National Leakage Research and Test Centre is a significant step in enabling the water industry to achieve its ambitious leakage reduction targets. It will accelerate innovation in the field of leakage repair and detection helping us to conserve precious water resources and deliver more resilient service to our customers.”
Keith Haslett, Water Director, Northumbrian Water Group
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We’ve now completed the detailed design phase and finished the tender process. A preferred bidder has been selected, and the project team is working closely with them to refine the design—making sure it’s both practical to build and cost-effective. The planning process is nearly complete. We’re preparing the final submission, which will follow once the design refinements are finalized. We’re also continuing discussions with Northumbrian Water and HR Wallingford to set up a special purpose vehicle. This will help ensure the long-term operation of the project aligns with the original OFWAT bid, protecting the investment for the future.
For more information on the National Leakage Research Test Centre, take a look at the following resources:
