Within the Water sector, we work with individual organisations, NGOs, industry and government to understand and reconcile their water challenges. Working together, we are committed to driving water innovation and helping deliver sustainable and climate resilient water systems for society.

Innovation partnership to tackle environmental challenges of the water sector

We are working with Royal HaskoningDHV to find opportunities to deepen and broaden their collaboration on research, education, technology development and knowledge transfer. The parties will collaborate on a wide range of topics and challenges. The two organisations have already identified synergies and opportunities around the following challenges. Read more


Severn Trent Water

Key facts

  • Our work with Severn Trent Water is focused on supporting their delivery of drinking water to the region
  • We also support their work on improving wastewater and discharge
  • Our collaborative research areas include anaerobic digestion for the purpose of reducing carbon footprint, which is both more environmentally friendly and economic for the customers.

Impact of partnership

Severn Trent and Cranfield University have been working together to bring improved water utility services and quality water to the region. As partners, Severn Trent benefit from privileged access to our world-class facilities and experts. We are able to deliver pilot and full scale work, highlighting the strength of our applied and fundamental research.

Cranfield students also benefit from listening to Severn Trent experts who deliver guest lectures, access to projects based in an industrial environment, improved employment opportunities and genuine networking and collaboration opportunities with water colleagues in the field.

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Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Reinventing the Toilet for the 2.5billion

Key facts

  • Cranfield are developing the Nano Membrane Toilet as part of the “Reinvent the Toilet” programme
  • Three major grants have been awarded for this project
  • We are leading a large project on sensors (Dr Leon Williams, C4D) and are participating in a consortium working on sludge drying and thermal treatment

Impact of partnership

The partnership was established after Cranfield submitted an entry to the Reinvent the Toilet programme – the Nano Membrane Toilet.

We receive significant support to pursue novel projects and technologies to address the challenge of urban sanitation. Their support enables us to employ post-docs and PhD students to develop our ideas. There have also been a number of MSc thesis projects working on aspects of the Nano Membrane Toilet.

Water & Sanitation for the Urban Poor (WSUP)

Key facts By harnessing the expertise and sector leading knowledge of the private sector, NGOs and research institutions, WSUP works as a professional partner to service providers in the delivery of water and sanitation programmes.

Impact of partnershipWSUP Water and Sanitation for the Urban Poor

Cranfield University was a founding member of WSUP when it was established in 2005, together with NGO and private sector members and a Cranfield academic sits on the WSUP Board of Directors. WSUP has quickly become recognised as a leading actor in the urban WASH sector, demonstrating how multi-sector partnerships can have significant impact. Cranfield works in partnership with WSUP on collaborative research and often involving our postgraduate students in support of WSUP’s work.

Related news

  • Cranfield University supports WSUP My Toilet Exhibition

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Anglian Water

Key facts

  • Our work with Anglian Water is focused on supporting their delivery of drinking water to the region
  • We also support their work on improving water treatment and developing the next generation of water works

Impact of partnership

As partners, Anglian Water benefit from privileged access to our world-class facilities and experts. We are able to deliver pilot and full scale work, highlighting the strength of our applied and fundamental research.

Cranfield students also benefit from listening to Anglian Water experts who deliver guest lectures, access to projects based in an industrial environment, improved employment opportunities and genuine networking, an Anglian Water bursary, and collaboration opportunities with water colleagues in the field.

We’ve done a lot of stuff in anaerobic digestion with Cranfield, and over the last four years we’ve built five full-scale plants that were guided by that research.

Matt Edwards, Asset Maintenance and Information Manager, Anglian Water