Expressions of interest (EoIs) are being sought by research organisation UK Water Industry Research (UKWIR) from expert partners interested in delivering targeted research projects addressing critical challenges facing the water industry.
UKWIR is an independent, not-for-profit organisation that facilitates, manages and delivers a strategic programme of research for water companies across the UK and Ireland.
The latest research opportunities cover a range of areas, including climate resilience and infrastructure durability, leakage reduction and network efficiency, and nature-based solutions (NbS).
“These research projects are specifically tailored to support the key strategic priorities of the water sector,” said Mike Rose, chief executive of UKWIR. “Whether here in the UK and Ireland or globally, no organisation can solve the systemic issues facing the sector alone. Through our research ecosystem, UKWIR brings water companies together with leading academic institutions, supply chain partners, regulators and environmental organisations to turn research into impartial, rigorous and scalable solutions.”
“We are always keen to collaborate with experts both from within and outside the water sector, and I strongly urge any organisation wanting to deliver research that has real-world impact to get in touch,” Rose added.
UKWIR is moving to a phased research programme, with projects being released in three tranches across 2026 and early 2027. The staggered approach provides the water sector and supply chain with more flexible opportunities to contribute their expertise throughout the year.
Expressions of interest are now open for five new research projects:
- Leakage: Climate-related bursts: impacts, research needs and mitigations
- Wastewater: Accommodating growth at sites at the treatment limit of technology
- Drinking water: Orthophosphate dosing in lead-free water networks: risks and decision support
- Water resources: Water for data and emerging technologies
- Wastewater: River restoration for wastewater nutrient schemes: decision framework
Further EoI opportunities will follow later in the year, covering a broad range of priorities across UKWIR’s research programme.
Upcoming research areas include:
- Leakage: Leak repair times, leakage benchmarking and approaches to efficient repair
- Wastewater: Climate resilience, micropollutants and the biodegradation of organic pesticides
- Asset management: Nature-based solutions and the use of data to improve drinking water production
- Circular economy: Opportunities to build more climate-resilient wastewater systems
