Image description: Fungi growing on a tree stump with a waterfall in the background. Image by Christoph Schütz from Pixabay
The winners of the sixth Water Breakthrough Challenge have been announced, with 19 pioneering projects set to receive a share of £58 million from Ofwat’s Water Innovation Fund. The Challenge seeks to transform how the water sector operates for customers, communities and the environment, encouraging collaboration between water companies and a diverse range of partners, from environmental charities and leading universities to technology and engineering firms.
The successful projects span technological, engineering and nature-based approaches, and are funded through Ofwat’s Water Innovation Fund, which is investing £600 million between 2020 and 2030 to advance and scale innovative projects across England and Wales. The Fund targets net zero, natural ecosystem protection, and the prevention of leaks and pollution.
Among the headline winners, several stand out for the breadth of their ambition:
Mycofiltration: Using Fungi as a Natural Way to Improve Water Quality has been awarded £1.5 million to trial fungal-based filters at storm overflows and run-off sites, removing pollutants from river water in a low-carbon, cost-effective way. The project is led by Anglian Water, in partnership with Spore & Anvil, Flete Field Lab, Barhale, the University of Essex, Imperial College London, South East Water, Spring Innovation and others.
Good Vibrations: Ecoacoustic River Health Monitoring has received £1.5 million to develop technology using acoustic signals and AI to assess the health of rivers. The project is led by Severn Trent Water, in partnership with SUEZ, the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, and others.
Printfrastructure 2.0 has been awarded £1.9 million to advance 3D concrete printing for wastewater infrastructure, enabling onsite construction of larger storage tanks using low-carbon, water-approved materials. It is led by Northumbrian Water, in partnership with Changemaker 3D Limited and others.
Smoke in the Water: Uncovering Public Health Data in Sewers has received £2 million for a 12-month pilot in Leicester, combining AI, clinical data and in-sewer monitoring to detect antibiotic-resistant infections, so-called superbugs, and identify resistance trends in support of wider public health protection. It is led by Severn Trent Water, in partnership with University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Kando Environmental, Resistomap and others.
Full details of all 19 winning projects, as well as previous winners, can be found at waterinnovation.challenges.org. The Water Breakthrough Challenge is delivered by Challenge Works (part of Nesta), in partnership with Arup and Isle Utilities. The seventh Water Breakthrough Challenge will open for entries on 7 September 2026.