Water & Wastewater Treatment

30 | APRIL 2016 | WWT | www.wwtonline.co.uk In the know Research Notes: disruptive innovations water quality degradation, treatment technologies of the future should be considered at the point of need, matching water quality with water use. This paradigm shi will be investigated in TWENTY65 via multiple treatment options including treatment at the household or neighbourhood scale via gravity-fed advanced ultra and nano-membrane filters with little or no pre-treatment, introduction of novel treatments such as synthetic biology to remove fats, oils and greases at the customer sink, or novel adsorption/ion exchange and electrochemical oxidation processes to recover nutrients from wastewater and remove emerging pollutants. However, technological advances alone will not succeed in addressing future water challenges if users, regulators, industry and the general public are not mobilised. Therefore there is a great need to better understand and engage with a variety of stakeholders, which is another key theme for TWENTY65. The mobilisation research theme will develop a systematic framework for describing and assessing engagement activities, with the goal that stakeholder-based solutions be considered equally alongside other technical innovations to address future water challenges. Underpinning this vision for the future of water is the concept of a collaborative and innovative sector. Working collaboratively across the 1. Demand-based treatment 2. Synergistic water-energy systems 3. Robotic autonomous systems for infrastructure inspection and rehabilitation 4. The city as a water resource 5. Adapting to changing catchments 6. Enhancing water services through mobilisation 7. Collaboration for innovation 8. Foresight and integration • Eight research themes for the TWENTY65 project water supply chain from challenge identification through commerciali- sation and implementation at a water company (Figure 1) will be essential in achieving a sustainable outcome for the water sector in the future. TWENTY65 will be research- ing collaboration processes for innovation in this context and developing tools and models to guide future joint work efforts. Good collaboration requires great communication. The TWENTY65 Hub will serve as the central point of contact for a variety of cross-sector interactions to enable innovation, including through a set of Thought Leadership Clubs. The Thought Leadership Clubs are open to any interested parties who wish to work collaboratively and contribute their knowledge on the water sector. Part of the journey to a new future is a shared vision, so the Hub will be developing a roadmap in consultation with water sector leaders, companies, researchers, and users. The first step in the roadmapping process is underway with the development of white papers about disruptive innovations, authored by the Thought Leadership Clubs, to lay out the current situation, the potential pathways forward, and the research needs to get there. Collectively, we can solve the grand challenge of clean water for all for the future and ensure the sustainability of this vital resource. Figure 1. Proposed model for collaborative innovation in the TWENTY65 Consortium storage and thereby avoid costly energy grid upgrades. Such added value would help drive and underpin investment in water infrastructure, without directly affecting the price paid by consumers for clean water. Given the need to increase sustainability of treatment and the influence of pipe infrastructure on

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