The Future Water Association Water Dragons competition 2017 has opened for entries, offering companies a unique opportunity to pitch their product, service or process innovations to a panel of senior water company executives and industry specialists.

The Association is currently completing arrangements for 4 Regional Heats throughout the year culminating with a Grand Final at the beginning of 2018.

Now in its tenth year, Water Dragons is itself innovating - 2016 saw three regional heats, attracting a wide range of excellent entries from across the sector, all in front of a live audience.

The fundamentals underpinning Water Dragons are simple and straightforward. Companies pitch their innovation to the Dragons who then cross-examine the presenters, focussing on three key areas:

• Have they clearly identified the potential size and value of the market?
• Have the presenters thought through how their innovation would be implemented?
• No innovation operates in a vacuum - how will its introduction impact on existing operations, working practices and systems?

Water Dragons dovetails with the Future Water Association’s ‘Innovating for the future’ roadmap, innovation training modules and the newly launched Young Water Dragons.

Paul Horton, CEO of Future Water Association said:

 “Encouraging new ideas and new ways of thinking is essential to a water sector that has to meet many challenges, changing weather patterns, populations changes, urbanisation, regulation – creativity is key to the sectors future. I am also delighted that in 2017 collaboration with the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Institute of Water and Chartered Institution of Water & Environmental Management, will bring professionals from across the sector into the heart of innovation and future thinking”

Simon Dray from Water Dragons Sponsors, Hydrosave added:

“Innovation is at the heart of our business and we believe it should also be at the heart of development across the water sector. Water Dragons is a competition that we are delighted to sponsor.  It encourages new ideas, new technology and new entrants into our sector and it is great for networking“.

Since it was launched in 2008, Water Dragons has seen  109 companies enter with ideas and developments across both product and services, including:

• increase ease of access to water mains;
• improve flow measurement;
• reduce shut off periods during pipe repairs;
• adopt in-situ lining trenchless technology practices;
• bring real-time blockage detection to sewer systems along with CSO mitigation;
• optimise activated sludge systems;
• increase leak detection;
• improve flow sensor systems in pipe networks;
•  reduce CAPEX & OPEX at wastewater treatment plants;
• help mitigate flood risk in emergency situations;
•  improve the management of Fats Oils & Greases (FOGs)

The Water Dragons have been drawn from a range of companies and organisations including representatives from Anglian Water, Irish Water, Northern Ireland Water, Southern Water, South West Water, South Staffs Water, Severn Trent Water, Thames Water, Yorkshire Water and Wessex Water. In addition ‘Dragons’ have also included Tier 1 contractors such as Skanska and Government bodies Innovate UK, KTN (Knowledge Transfer Network).

Future Water Association announced the awards winners for 2016 at the Annual Lunch which took place in February. The judging panel for the seven companies in the final consisted of:

• Richard Price, Director of Engineering & Construction, Southern Water
• Stewart Bell, Head of Water Process, Utilities, Skanska UK
• Pete Aspley, Wholesale Service Delivery Director, South Staffs Water
• Jon Brigg, Innovation Manager, Business Support Group, Yorkshire Water
• Stuart Mobbs, Technical Director, Hydrosave
• Jonathan Abra, Water Theme Lead, KTN

Nivus took the award for the Best Innovation  with the Cross Correlation Pipe Sensor,  SwiftComply won the Highly Commended award with their grease collection services and Glan Agua won the Audience Award  with their Mixed Liquor Vacuum Degassing technology.

Click here to download the Water Dragons Competition 2017 entry form

Click here to download the Water Dragons Guidelines for Entrants