Water and Effluent Treatment Magazine
Issue link: https://fhpublishing.uberflip.com/i/1029923
4 | INNOVATION 2018 Innovations to drive the UK water industry to greater heights INNOVATION 2018 I nnovation is key for the UK water in- dustry to survive and thrive in the face of growing regulatory pressures and customer expectations. These challenges are well known: improving asset health and longevity; ensuring water and envi- ronmental quality are at the highest possi- ble standards; keeping the water • owing to customers; managing Totex; improving customer engagement; and many more. Key to a successful, sustainable, and low-cost water and wastewater service is breaking down resistance to technologi- cal innovation and new ways of working. Regulation and company culture must adapt to encourage risk-taking, allow for failure, and drive long-term bene• ts for the customer. Contracts between water companies and their partners must be structured in a way that encourages innovation and new ways of working by sharing the rewards of outperformance. But more important than • nancial incentives is a culture of collaboration and openness, that enables all parties to try new things, to evolve solutions by trying them out, and to There is no silver bullet to help water utilities and their contractor partners achieve top performance in AMP7, but many small gains can add up to a step change communicate e€ ectively about • ndings. Companies cannot expect innovations to drop into their lap ready-made: they must be willing to attempt something di€ erent, whether small-scale or large, and work together with external partners for the bene• t of each. While there is no silver bullet to help water utilities and their contractor part- ners achieve the ambitious performance targets they are being set for AMP7, many of the products and solutions revealed in this year's WET News Innovation Supple- ment will help them along the way. Much of the innovative e€ ort which will take place in the next asset manage- ment period is likely to focus on smart water technology and improving the • ow of information about water assets and their operation. Pulsar Process Measure- ment (page 12) is one company that is at the vanguard of this e€ ort, with technol- ogy that can help detect and anticipate • ood events by monitoring combined sewer over• ows. In other • elds, regulatory change can be the driver for innovation, and this is AVK (p6) S1E (p13)