Looking to make a splash in the United Kingdom’s water tech space? Foresight is proud to partner with the UK’s United Utilities, one of the country’s leading water companies, for two new Challenges in our award-winning SDG Connect series.
Water is one of our most precious resources. In this challenge, we are seeking solutions in water monitoring and management that will increase water quality and reduce the environmental impact of current systems.
United Utilities operates 88 water treatment works and 569 wastewater treatment works spanning the North West of England, serving 7 million customers, over 3 million homes, and 200,000 businesses. Their work helps protect over 1,300km of coastline and around 7,000km of rivers flowing across the region.
If you want to use your technology to make a big impact in a major European market, these challenges are for you.
Challenge 1: Reducing the Environmental Impact of Combined Sewer Overflows
United Utilities is seeking improvements or alternatives for combined sewer overflows (CSOs).
CSOs are an important part of the current sewer network. They act as a pressure relief valve when there is too much rainfall, allowing rain water, mixed with sewage, to rise inside the sewer, and eventually enter a separate pipe that flows into a river or the sea, preventing the flooding of streets, homes, and businesses.
United Utilities is seeking innovations that could be deployed to accelerate and improve performance, and reduce the environmental impact of CSOs such as:
- Avoiding the use of CSOs altogether
- Improving the quality of discharge
- Monitoring and measuring discharge accurately and remotely
Challenge 2: Innovative Solutions to Improve Water Quality
Water quality is a top priority for United Utilities and for their customers. This includes taste, smell, and consistency.
This Challenge seeks:
- Natural or low chemical, and low energy solutions to enhance water treatment, in line with the UK’s net zero goals.
This SDG Connect Challenge is supported by the Trade Commissioner Service of Canada, and Export Development Canada.
