Ofwat’s Water Breakthrough Challenge has awarded £1.5 million to four Thames Water led projects which will support the water sector to better meet the needs of customers, communities, and the environment.

The projects will focus on incentivising community rainwater management, standardising digital technology, seasonal forecasting tools and using robots in pressurised sewage systems

The Water Breakthrough Challenge is designed to drive innovation and collaboration in the water sector.

Thames Water will work in partnership with water companies, universities, and government organisations, to provide innovative solutions to some of the challenges facing the water industry including extreme weather events, maintaining and improving ageing infrastructure and protecting the environment.

An overview of the four Thames Water innovation projects

Pipebots for rising mains – Led by Thames Water in partnership with Wessex Water, Dwr Cymru, Sheffield University and Synthotech

This project will trial robots to carry out inspections in pressurised sewage pipes to help prevent bursts and pollutions.

Sub-Seasonal Forecasting to Improve Operational Decision Making – Led by Thames Water in partnership with Met Office, Northumbrian Water, United Utilities, Anglian Water, Bristol Water, Southern Water, Severn Trent, South West Water and Wessex Water

This project will create a reliable weather impact modelling and forecasting system which will help water companies forecast weather events beyond 10-14 days to 4-6 weeks. This will help the water industry better manage its resources and operational management capabilities for dry and wet weather events.

Incentivising community-centric rainwater management – Led by Thames Water in partnership with Anglian Water, South West Water, Indepen management consultancy, Isle Utilities and Our Rainwater

This project will trial community incentivisation schemes for rainwater management, to help stop excess surface water from entering the sewer network.

Unlocking digital twins – Led by Thames Water in partnership with Severn Trent and Information Junction

A ‘digital twin’ is a virtual representation of a water company’s physical assets or processes, for example a digital version of its pipe network and water treatment process. Water companies use these digital twins to unlock new data-driven innovations, which can improve their services and how they manage their networks for the benefit of customers. More companies are using digital twins but there is no agreed standard model and process for creating them, which has the potential to create inefficiencies, reduce the value delivered by these systems and increase costs. This project will create standards to support consistent digital twins throughout the industry.