Ofwat launches £1.5M Water Efficiency Lab challenge to fund UK water‑saving innovations

Key details

• Funding pot: up to £1,500,000 in total.
• Eligible applicants: UK organisations with proposals aimed at the water-efficiency needs of England and Wales.
• Closing date: 10 March 2026.
• Programme format: annual, challenge-led competition designed to accelerate solutions for the sector.
• Policy relevance: water savings can also reduce energy use and emissions across treatment and distribution — applicants are encouraged to quantify these co-benefits.

Practical application tips

1. Quantify co-benefits (energy and emissions) and show how water savings translate to carbon/operational savings.
2. Provide realistic deployment timelines and clear scaling pathways that would appeal to operators and funders.
3. Include measurable success metrics, rapid pilot plans and well-defined evaluation methods.
4. Present robust cost–benefit modelling and a credible budget with milestones.
5. Engage potential operators or partners early to demonstrate commercial viability and adoption routes.

How I can help

• Application strategy and bid structuring.
• Technical feasibility studies and pilot design.
• Cost–benefit modelling and quantification of co-benefits (energy/emissions).
• Designing rapid pilots with clear metrics and scaling pathways.

For full programme and application details, see the source: https://grantfinder.co.uk/ofwat-water-efficiency-lab/.