Water industry puts up £25k for new Watershot Prize

(by Karma Loveday)

Water UK has launched a new £25,000 National Watershot Prize, to support academics to crack tough water challenges.

Applications are open between now and 2 November, for undergraduate researchers, postgraduate researchers, doctoral candidates and early-career academics who have recently published or are developing outstanding research to help the water sector meet water or wastewater challenges, including relating to climate change and population growth.

The winner or winning research team will receive a £15,000 prize, with second and third-place applicants receiving £5,000 each.

Judging will be done by a panel of academics, industry experts and NGO representatives.

All shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend a prize-giving ceremony in January 2027.

The National Watershot Prize forms part of a pledge made by government and industry at the 2025 Water UK Skills Summit to recruit 30,000 new people to the sector by 2030.

David Henderson, Water UK chief executive, said: “New discoveries and original research are needed to help secure our water supplies and reduce the impact of wastewater on the environment. With the National Watershot Prize, we hope to encourage the brightest minds in our universities to bring their talents, energy, and fresh perspectives to the water sector, helping us to pioneer the technologies of tomorrow.”