UK water research gets £3.9m boost
20 Oct 2015
A new £3.9million research project has been established to help meet the UK’s future needs for a clean, sustainable water supply.
The research, which involves six universities and 26 companies from across the UK water sector, will attempt to tackle key industry challenges.
Its primary objective is to create flexible and adaptive water systems by developing multiple solutions and technologies that can be ‘tailored’ to suit specific circumstances, said researchers.
New approaches and models for collaborative working across the water sector are an essential part of the project.
Joby Boxall, the University of Sheffield
The Universities of Sheffield, Exeter, Manchester and Reading, Newcastle University and Imperial College London are all involved in the scheme, and ten water companies will also take part.
Their research will focus on demand-based technologies, social practices, water energy systems to minimise carbon emissions and the use of robotic autonomous systems for infrastructure inspection and repair.
“Water supply is the foundation of society, but a service we are privileged to be able to take for granted in the UK,” said Joby Boxall, from the University of Sheffield’s Faculty of Engineering and Director of Sheffield Water Centre, who will head the project.
“New approaches and models for collaborative working across the water sector are an essential part of the project. We have support pledged from over 50 partners and will be looking to get more organisations on board.
”This investment will help tackle our ageing water infrastructure to improve the lives of millions of people around the world.”
The project is part of the £21 million ‘Engineering Grand Challenges’ funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
