Cranfield University has a significant role in four projects that have been awarded funding through Ofwat’s sixth Water Breakthrough Challenge.
£58 million has been awarded to 19 pioneering projects which are designed to tackle some of the most pressing challenges facing the water sector. Cranfield experts are collaborating with water companies, technology providers, environmental and community organisations on the projects.
Professor Leon A. Terry, Pro-Vice-Chancellor Education and Research at Cranfield University welcomed the funding news: “The water sector faces complex challenges which cannot be solved in isolation. Cranfield is proud to contribute its deep expertise to these projects and work in partnership with industry, communities and key stakeholders. Together, we are helping to develop sustainable, resilient water systems that will benefit both the environment and society for generations to come.”
Supporting community-led water solutions
Community Water Enterprises (CWE) is led by Wessex Water and supported by partner organisations including the National Trust and the King’s Trust. The £4.98 million initiative focuses on empowering local communities to maintain nature-based solutions such as rain gardens and wetlands.
These small-scale interventions can collectively reduce flood risk, ease pressure on sewer systems and improve river health. Cranfield’s involvement through Dr Robert Grabowski, Reader in Catchment Science, and Dr Kristell Le Corre Pidou, Research Fellow in Water Reuse, will help develop toolkits and training programmes so that communities can work together to solve water-related challenges.
Advancing sustainable waste treatment
The Hydrothermal Oxidation (HTO) – Futureproofing Bioresources Management project, which has secured £9.24 million in funding, is led by Anglian Water. The project aims to demonstrate a commercially viable alternative to spreading biosolids on land.
By using heat, pressure and chemical processes, HTO converts organic waste into valuable outputs while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Professor of Water Engineering Bruce Jefferson and Ewan McAdam, Professor of Membrane Science and Technology, will support the development of this scalable solution, which could significantly improve how the sector manages bioresources and contributes to net-zero goals.
Driving renewable energy and reducing emissions through carbon harvesting
The Carbon Harvesting for Energy (CH4NGE) project explores how controlling carbon flows across wastewater treatment systems can increase renewable energy generation, improve energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and support Net Zero ambitions across the water sector.
Led by Yorkshire Water and delivered in partnership with Xylem and Cranfield University, the £1.63 million project will trial an innovative rotating membrane filtration technology to recover more carbon at the primary treatment stage.
At Cranfield, Dr Yadira Bajon Fernandez, Reader in Bioresources Science and Engineering, and Ana Soares, Professor of Biotechnology Engineering, will lead research evaluating the impacts of carbon harvesting on anaerobic digestion performance, downstream wastewater treatment processes and greenhouse gas emissions.
Increasing chemical and energy sustainability in drinking water treatment
Cranfield is also contributing to Chemnovate – Circular and Low Carbon Chemical Solutions for Drinking Water, a £1.93 million project led by Anglian Water that explores new approaches to reducing the chemical, waste, and energy burden of UK drinking water treatment.
A lack of systemic circularity in drinking water production presents both a challenge and an opportunity. By rethinking chemical and energy use and waste management, the project aims to cut the chemical, waste and energy footprint of drinking water treatment.
Dr Irene Carra, Senior Lecturer in Chemical Processes, leads Cranfield’s involvement in the project.
