Industry welcomes WRc plan to boost innovation

by Megan Darby

Suppliers and contractors have welcomed proposals by research consultancy WRc to set up a national “innovation accelerator” for the water sector.

In a consultation published last week, WRc set out plans for an independent body to co-ordinate the use of testing and demonstration facilities and to support business plan development.

The plans seek to address a perceived bottleneck in getting new technology adopted by UK water companies. WRc said that while suppliers could get from concept to product in three years, commercial implementation took up to 15.

Adam Kingdon, chief executive of i2O Water, said each water company wanted to carry out its own trials on technology. Sharing data across the industry would “really speed up the adoption of badly needed new technology”.

Schemes to give product developers access to testing sites exist, but not on a national scale. This is what Thames Water is doing in its recently signed deal with Blue­water Bio. Tom Stephenson, scientific adviser to the technology firm, said: “We welcome any addition to the national water innovation scene.”

WRc suggested a number of funding options, from suppliers paying a fee for every test to direct government grants.

“This collaborative approach requires collaborative funding,” said Colin Kelly, director of gas and water at Balfour Beatty Utility Solutions, which is setting up a water “solutions centre”. Having an open programme would cut duplication and make investment “much more effective,” he said.

This article first appeared in Utility Week’s print edition of 21st September 2012.

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