Severn Trent and United Utilities line up with global innovation fund group

An international group of water companies including Severn Trent Water and Untied Utilities has unveiled a multi million pound fund that aims to “find, develop and accelerate” technologies to shield the world’s water supplies from “the growing challenges of climate change and population growth.”

The World Water Innovation Fund, members have committed resources and invested in a central fund. They each plan to run large-scale trials of new technologies, and to create a seed-fund to accelerate water innovation.

Severn Trent and United Utilities were joined in the World Water Innovation Fund by: LADWP and DC Water from the US, and Aegea from Brazil; and by Hunter Water, Melbourne Water, Yarra Valley Water, South East Water and City West Water from Australia.

• Welsh Water last week hosted an innovation conference attended by 400 guests from academia, stakeholders, and across Welsh Water. Conference partners showcasing technology included Infosys, CGI, Capgemini, Wipro, Microsoft and SAP.