The Centre for Resilience in Environment, Water and Waste (CREWW), the pioneering research partnership between South West Water and the University of Exeter, will showcase its latest research and innovation at the IWA World Water Congress in Glasgow this October.
At the congress, CREWW will showcase a range of projects focused on environmental resilience, water quality, pollution, catchment management and innovation across the water sector.
This includes South West Water's Upstream Thinking programme, groundwater infiltration risk modelling, a machine learning tool for identifying historic lead pipes, and CREWW's microplastics lab, alongside wider work to improve drinking water quality and strengthen the resilience of water and wastewater systems.
Visitors will also be able to learn more about Storying Water, an innovative audio storytelling project that brings water science to life through creative podcasts designed to engage diverse audiences with the future resilience of our waterways.
As CREWW celebrates its fifth anniversary, these projects demonstrate how the partnership continues to translate research into practical solutions, technological innovation and new approaches to public engagement that deliver benefits for customers, communities and the environment.
Carolyn Cadman, Chief Sustainability and Natural Resources Officer at South West Water and CREWW Board Member, said: "The challenges facing the water sector are becoming increasingly complex, which is why collaboration has never been more important.
"The partnership between South West Water and the University of Exeter through CREWW is unique as it provides a brilliant opportunity to bring together academic research and operational expertise to develop solutions that can make a real difference in practice.
"We're looking forward to sharing our work at IWA, learning from others across the sector and demonstrating the value of partnership working in driving innovation."
Professor Ed Keedwell, Professor of Artificial Intelligence at the University of Exeter and Co-Director of CREWW, added: "CREWW demonstrates what can be achieved when academic expertise and industry knowledge are brought together to address real-world challenges. Over the past five years, this partnership has enabled researchers and practitioners to work side by side to conduct cutting-edge research and practical solutions that can benefit the environment and communities.
"Being part of the IWA World Water Congress gives us an exciting opportunity to share what we have learned, showcase the breadth of research taking place through CREWW and connect with organisations from around the world. We hope these conversations will help build new collaborations and accelerate innovation to address the complex challenges facing water and wastewater systems."
The congress will also provide an opportunity for CREWW to build new relationships, explore future research opportunities and demonstrate how collaboration between industry and academia can support innovation across the global water sector.
Visitors attending the IWA World Water Congress can meet the CREWW team at the UK Pavilion, Stand 750, to learn more about the partnership and its research.
For more information about CREWW visit www.southwestwater.co.uk/about-us/what-we-do/innovation/creww