The Innovation in Water Challenge
Date published:
January 18, 2021
On 18 January 2021, the first round of the Innovation in Water Challenge (IWC) will open for entries led by water companies or NAVs. The deadline for entries is 12 noon (GMT) on 26 February 2021.Download the Entrant Handbook to find out more about:
- Timeline & Key Dates
- What you can win
- What we are looking for
- Assessment criteria
- Who can be involved
- How to enter
- Requirements for successful entries
- More information and support for your application
- Frequently asked questions
- Terms and Conditions
- Judging panel
- Get involved & apply
Hear about the Innovation in Water Challenge and join the Future Water webinar on Thursday 21st January 2021 at 2-3pm (GMT). Hear from the IWC and have a chance to answer your questions. RegisterA recording of the webinar on the 16th December is available here.
More from the water sector
Find out how the UK water sector is informing, innovating, and influencing change
Future Water Awards 2026 – Nominations now open
Celebrate excellence in the UK water sector by nominating outstanding individuals and organisations for the 2026 Future Water Awards, recognising emerging talent, people, and above-and-beyond contributions.
Drive to tackle I&I with “high fidelity” data
New Environment Agency requirements on sewer overflow reporting are placing urgent pressure on water companies to better quantify and reduce groundwater infiltration in wastewater networks. In this article, Ryan Pearson, Head of Strategy at Metasphere (a Grundfos company), explains how high-quality data and advanced monitoring can help utilities meet new compliance requirements, reduce pollution events, and support lower-carbon, nature-based infrastructure solutions.
New Environment Agency guidance on sewer overflow reporting is pushing water companies to better quantify groundwater infiltration and reduce wastewater network overflows.
Reg 4 and Reg 31 — More Than Just Specification Language
Regulation 4 and Regulation 31 are often referenced in UK water industry specifications, but their impact on manufacturers and the supply chain is far-reaching. In this article, Groundbreaker Systems explores how approvals such as WRAS, KIWA and NSF shape product design, testing and compliance. While rigorous and costly to achieve, these approvals provide vital assurance that materials and products used in water networks will protect drinking water quality and perform reliably for decades. Ultimately, compliance is not just about certification, it is about safeguarding the safety and resilience of the UK’s water infrastructure.
How Regulation 4 and Regulation 31 approvals shape product testing, compliance and trust across the UK water supply chain.