Beyond adapting to climate change, the water sector must also contend with its own climate footprint. Globally, water use, storage, and distribution causes around 10% of all global greenhouse gas emissions.

These climate-related challenges are being layered onto existing, now-familiar issues, such as ageing infrastructure and pollution. Only 16% of all surface waters in England achieve ‘good’ ecological status. And emerging pollutants, such as ‘forever chemicals’, are being added to longstanding problems with nutrient pollution and the hot-button issue of sewage discharge.

These challenges are reflected in PR24, which targets a 17% reduction in leakage, a 20% reduction in water consumption per person per day, and a 30% reduction in total pollution incidents, among other performance commitments.

Innovation will be key to addressing these interrelated challenges. And although the issues are complex, the UK water industry has innovation built into its structures through initiatives like the Ofwat Innovation Fund and the incentivisation of innovation through PR24. There is therefore every hope that the sector can rise to the challenge and deliver a water-secure future for all.

In this collaborative report between Springwise and Utility Week, we highlight a selection of promising global water innovations. The purpose is to provide inspiration through a sample of the many promising technologies currently under development.