A new industry-backed initiative is seeking to address a current bottleneck in the UK water sector : the limited capacity for Regulation 31 (Reg31) testing, a critical requirement for products and materials used in contact with drinking water.
There is a strong pipeline of products, materials and treatment solutions that require Regulation 31 approval before they can be deployed. As the sector continues to invest in infrastructure and asset renewal, demand for robust, accessible, and trusted testing services is likely to remain high.
However, the current lack of UK capacity to carry out full Reg 31 testing – the mandatory approvals process that new products must pass before they can be used in contact with drinking water – has been identified as a key challenge impacting the speed and scale by which innovation can be implemented.
As demand has grown and the range of potential new solutions has expanded, this limited capacity has become a bottleneck. Leading innovators and water companies facing long and unpredictable waiting times, high testing costs, and uncertainty about when, and whether, specific tests will be available.
This affects everyone in the system: start-ups and established suppliers bringing new solutions forward, and water companies trying to plan and deliver innovation at the pace customers, communities and the environment need. This also includes suppliers wanting to make significant changes to existing products.
Marc Hannis, Ofwat Innovation Principal commented:
“Strengthening Regulation 31 testing is not only about addressing a current bottleneck. It is also an opportunity to build a stronger UK market for trusted testing services that can support innovation adoption over the long term.”
Without timely access to full Reg 31 testing and approval, innovations proven in these settings cannot be deployed on real-world assets. The result is a persistent gap between innovation and implementation.
Through the Water Innovation Implementation Programme, Ofwat’s Water Innovation Fund and its partners are working in collaboration with the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) – the drinking water quality regulator in England and Wales – to launch a new Implementation Enablers challenge.
Lila Thompson, CEO, British Water said:
“There is an urgent need to address the absence of a UK testing centre for Regulation 31 approvals. It is therefore encouraging that Ofwat’s Innovation Implementation Fund will be used to establish a testing landscape to unlock solutions and technologies. This is much needed by all ecosystem partners including innovators and water companies.”
Led by Ofwat, the Water Innovation Fund is being delivered by Challenge Works (a Nesta enterprise), in partnership with Arup and Isle Utilities.
Strengthening the Reg 31 testing system
The aim of the challenge is not to replace what already exists - commercial and specialist laboratories will continue to play an important role in the UK’s Reg 31 landscape.
Instead, this is seen as an opportunity to strengthen and expand the overall system so that it is:
- Resilient – with sufficient, reliable, and flexible capacity
- Fair and accessible – with transparent, attainable pricing and clear routes in for a wide range of innovators
- Sector-aligned – shaped around long-term needs of water companies and their customers, not just short-term demand
- Fully compliant – maintaining, and where possible enhancing, the rigour of DWI and Reg 31 requirements
The organisers want to explore how new operating, ownership and partnership models could sit alongside existing provision – complementing and reinforcing it – to create a more future-proofed approach for the sector. This might involve:
- new facilities
- new partnerships or consortia
- shared or distributed delivery models
The current Implementation Enablers challenge on Regulation 31 is now live and open for applications until 1 May 2026.
The process includes a Stage 1 award of up to £50,000 to develop a detailed delivery plan, including a feasibility assessment, and Stage 2 awards of up to £1 million each for successful delivery plans, with a total budget of up to £3 million for the challenge.
All applications for Stage 1 funding will be assessed by the delivery team in collaboration with Ofwat and the DWI. Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application by 29th May 2026.
The Fund is keen to hear from a broad range of organisations that may be able to contribute - this could include laboratories, universities, technical specialists, manufacturers, supply chain partners with relevant expertise.
Click here for more information and details of how to apply
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