UKWIR, the body responsible for facilitating the shaping of the water industry's research agenda, is seeking expressions of interest (EOI) from expert partners or consortia able to deliver targeted research projects tackling the biggest issues facing the water sector.

The water companies of the UK and Ireland make up the UKWIR membership – the organisation is responsible for developing the research programme, procuring and managing the research and disseminating the findings.

UKWIR relies on the involvement of its members, their regulators and collaboration with other organisations. Its research programme is specifically catered to meet the needs of the industry - informed by the input of water companies, academia, and other stakeholders, and falling within the scope of its Big Questions.

UKWIR has developed 12 Big Questions to tackle the key challenges faced by the industry, identified through extensive consultation and discussion with members and stakeholders, including:

• How will we achieve zero leakage in a sustainable way by 2050?
• How do we achieve zero customers in water poverty by 2030?
• How do we remove more carbon than we emit by 2050?
• How do we halve freshwater abstractions in a sustainable way by 2050?
• How do we achieve zero uncontrolled discharges from sewers by 2050?
• How do we achieve zero interruptions to water supplies by 2050?
• How do we ensure that the regulatory framework incentivises efficient delivery of the right outcomes for customers and the environment?
• What is the true cost of maintaining assets and how do we get this better reflected in the regulatory decision-making process?

Delivery of a successful research programme requires input from members in defining their needs, steering projects and applying the outputs in order to secure the anticipated benefits. Members benefit from collaboration on research projects of common interest and elimination of duplication in research, enabling them to get more value for their investment.

UKWIR is listing 21 wide-ranging projects open for Expressions of Interest, including:

• A review of the success of previous mains renewal methods and an overview of new techniques
• Optimising the selection of pipes for renewal to reduce leakage
• Optimising and balancing short-term operational interventions with long-term capital maintenance to improve water supply interruptions
• Feasibility study on polluter pays monitoring and extended producer responsibility.
• A holistic review of the impact of reducing the operation of sewer overflows on organic load to works, sludge production, carbon and GHG emissions
• Understanding the possibilities of new approaches and standards from a data rich sewer network
• Criticality and value of data in supporting asset management decision making
• Common definition and calculation of Asset Health
• Circular economy - water treatment sludges
• Response to National Bioresources Strategy - prioritisation of opportunities
• Understanding water infrastructure risks - major bursts, traffic volumes and the condition of road infrastructure

Launching the EOI call, UKWIR said:

“Whether your expertise is in furthering sustainable wastewater services, managing sewer discharges, tackling water poverty, leakage, or interruptions to supply, we would love to hear from you.”

Expressions of interest are open until midnight on Sunday 1st October 2023. Click here for more information on this year’s projects and to register your interest.