Surprise inspections, regular performance and process check-ups, and compulsory efficiency labels on appliances represent a major overhaul for a broken industry. But what comes next?
This week the UK Government announced the biggest changes to water supplies in England and Wales for a generation. This comes following years of controversy linked to pollution events, rampant price increases, and – more recently – widespread outages among South East Water customers due to storm damage.
Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds told BBC News the firms would have ‘nowhere to hide’ under new regulations, and the measures would put an end to ‘a system whereby water companies are marking their own homework’.
The White Paper includes strict monitoring teams for each individual supplier, smart meters and other mandatory efficiency devices. A chief engineer role will also be set up to replace Ofwat with a new regulatory. Although the promises come with a warning about how long this policy will take to implement, and for its impact to be felt.
In the meantime, Ofwat is pressing on its Water Discovery Challenge, offering £7.5 million in grant funding for innovations which could help tackle some of the major issues impacting the sector. In particular, companies – which don’t have to be within the water industry – are encouraged to look at areas including energy, cities and transport, construction, agriculture and farming, as well as AI, digital, data and internet of things.
Initially, 20 applicants will be given £100,000 in seed funding alongside non-financial support and mentorship. 10 winning teams will then get £550,000 next April to continue developing ideas and products and five months of non-monetary support. You can find out more about eligibility and how the scheme works here.
“The Water Innovation Fund supports bold, scalable solutions to the sector’s toughest challenges. Breakthrough technologies can make a real difference, but the sector can be hard to access for new innovators,’ said Dr Jo Jolly, Director of Environment and Innovation, Ofwat. The first Water Discovery Challenge proved there’s a talented community of innovators raring to make a difference.
‘Whether its improving services to customers, helping build water secure communities, improving water quality or something else entirely, I’m excited to see the ideas that come forward to deliver transformational benefits to customers, communities and the environment – and act as an engine for economic growth and a people- and nature-positive future,’ she continued.
Image: Greg Jewett / Unsplash
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