Welsh Water has secured £167k of funding for an innovative research new project to develop a rapid early detection process solution to address the problem of blue-green algae before it reaches the treatment works.

Photo courtesy Nasa: blue-green algae cyanobacteria cells 

The water company has been announced as one of the winners of Ofwat and Nesta Challenges’ Innovation in Water Challenge. Working with partners at Bristol Water, Cardiff University, United Utilities and Yorkshire Water Services, Welsh Water is leading the 12-month initiative - upon completion it could be rolled out across the whole of the other water companies across the UK.

Supplying customers with a reliable water supply is a 24/7 operation which Welsh Water manages through the operation of 838 water treatment works and 66 impounding reservoirs. At the works, water which is sourced from reservoirs or rivers is treated and cleaned so that clean and fresh tasting water is provided to customers.

At times the taste and smell of drinking water can be affected if blue-green algae is present in reservoirs. The blue-green algae can produce naturally occurring harmless compounds that affect the taste and smell of the water. While water companies are able to manage this by adjusting the treatment process at the works so that it doesn’t affect the water which reaches the customer, it does require the use of additional chemicals and treatment which can be expensive.

The risk posed by blue green algae to taste and odour risk is a challenge faced by the entire water industry. It requires accurate, timely data on the presence of blue-green algae found in the water, which is a time-consuming process that can only be undertaken by skilled operators in water service labs.

The new solution will provide near real-time, accurate monitoring that will allow water samples to be assessed with ease and near real-time results obtained, making the time-consuming and expensive assessment of blue-algae presence a thing of the past.

An overarching benefit of intervention management is not only reduced costs, but also reduced carbon footprint through reduced materials and energy requirement. This specifically addresses movement towards net-zero emissions by the industry.

The funding awarded by the industry regulator Ofwat, and Nesta Challenges, through the Innovation in Water Challenge, means the initiative will be able to move into its trial stage so that the methodology can be fully tested.

Paul Gaskin, Research and Innovation Manager for Water Assets at Welsh Water commented:

“I am delighted that Welsh Water’s initiative to provide an innovative solution to rapidly detect the presence of blue-green algae in reservoirs has been successful in receiving funding for Ofwat’s Innovation in Water Challenge. The current methods of detection for algae are time consuming and costly, needing laboratory conditions to interpret results.”

“The project will develop methods and then crucially transfer the knowledge learnt to water companies to embed this method in house. We are delighted to be joined on this initiative by Cardiff University, Yorkshire Water, Bristol Water and United Utilities to develop a solution that will benefit our customers and the environment.”