“Innovation is at the heart of Northumbrian Water’s strategy, ensuring we deliver value to customers, enhance resilience, and drive sustainable water management. But how do you create an environment where innovation thrives?”
We were delighted to welcome Head of Innovation Dr Angela MacOscar to WATER MANAGEMENT Smart Class 2025, to explore the key principles and enablers that embed a successful innovation culture within an organisation.
Angela’s inspirational keynote showcased how Northumbrian Water is turning bold ideas into reality, highlighting groundbreaking projects that exemplify the power of collaboration and technological advancement. She delved into:
- National Underground Asset Register – Transforming infrastructure management through industry-wide data sharing.
- Water Cookbook – An asset design standardisation initiative that will enable AMP8 to be more cost effective and faster at deployment.
- Generative AI for Chemical Dosing – Harnessing cutting-edge AI to optimise treatment processes and reduce environmental impact.
- Smart Skies for Healthier Rivers – Using satellite and drone technology to monitor and improve river water quality.
Angela also discussed the challenges of scaling innovation, sharing insights on overcoming barriers, securing stakeholder buy-in, and fostering effective partnerships across sectors. She emphasised the role of initiatives like the Ofwat Innovation Fund in accelerating progress, as well as the growing importance of international collaboration in shaping the future of water innovation.
Delegates gained valuable insights into Northumbrian Water’s innovation journey and discovered how organisations can create the right conditions to drive real change in the water sector.
Summary of presentation highlights:
- Who is NWG?
- “We serve 4.8m people and 2m Domestic Properties”…”Every day we supply 1,104 megalitres (1.1 billion litres) of water”…
- Northumbrian Water – Water & Sewerage services; 2.7m people/1.3 million properties; Medium Water Stressed Area;
- Essex & Suffolk Water – Water services; 2.01m people/794,000 properties; Serious Water Stressed Area;
- Four Key Challenges – 1) Climate Change 2) Aging Assets 3) Changing Expectations 4) Increased Demand;
- Research and Innovation Priorities – Shaped by purpose, vision and values: Results Driven; One Team; Customer Focused; Ethical; Innovative;
- Pillars of Innovation at NWG – People, Purpose, Process and Passion;
- Hub & Spoke Innovation – Ambition to lead in innovation in the water sector; The innovation ambassador group (IAG) is a part of the growth of the innovative culture within NWG; Aim to have 40% of NWG actively involved in innovation;
- Regeneration through Northumbrian Water’s Innovation Festival – Changing how innovation is done by creating a pipeline of brilliant ideas;
- Festival Timeline 2017-2024 – Annual highlights and moving to the next level;
- Festival Impact and Stickiness – Across the 8 festivals: >20,600 attendees, >5,000 organisations, 25% NWG employees, 242 sprints/hacks, >290 ideas progressed, >40 countries, >45 sectors, 16 Ofwat bids, £50M/year potential project value; Innovation 8-Year Trends graph;
- Homemade to High Tech;
- Game Changing Projects – Alexa Skill – Water Sector 1st in 2017; Moss Tree – England’s 1st in 2018; NUAR in 2018 – A £2.6Bn project supported by UK govt; Power of Z – Water sector 1st asset location tool in 2019; FairWater – Ofwat fund Winner 2020 >£4M; Treatment 2 Tap – Ofwat fund winner 2021 >£600K; Tipping Point – 2021 Sector 1st asset health tool worth >£1M; No Dig – 2022 Sector 1st for game changing leakage fix; River Deep Mountain AI – 2023 Ofwat fund winner >£6M; Drones for WQ – 2024 Ofwat bid worth £6M; Gen AI for Chem Dosing – 2024 Game changer for operational efficiency;
- National Underground Asset Register (NUAR) – Revolutionising Underground Infrastructure Mapping with NUAR (IF17)…
- What is the project about? The creation of a national underground map of buried pipes & cables that allows excavators to see what is below the ground;
- What problem is it solving? Every time a utility company digs a hole to maintain its services, there is a risk they will accidentally “strike” another service; NUAR is estimated to deliver a potential £490 million per year in economic growth, through reduced accidental strikes on underground assets, improved efficiency in construction, and reduced disruptions for the public and businesses;
- The Solution: Over 300 of the 700+ buried asset owners are now sharing data into NUAR; Many utility companies, contractors and local authorities are starting to deploy NUAR to their workforces and reap the benefits; NWG have now deployed NUAR to over 400 workers; NWG’s deployment methodology and training materials have been shared with the Government to help others adopt NUAR;
- Water Cookbook – Revolutionising Asset Design with Water Cookbook (IF23)…
- What’s the Project? The Water Cookbook is transforming how we design water infrastructure by seamlessly integrating standard designs into business-as-usual operations; This innovative approach is set to streamline processes, reduce costs, and enhance efficiency across the sector;
- The problem we’re tackling – Currently, every new asset is designed bespoke, leading to high design costs and inefficiencies; With a significant increase in capital schemes in AMP8, reducing these costs is crucial; This project aims to cut design costs by 6-9%, unlocking huge savings for the industry;
- The Solution: Standardised, Scalable, & Smarter! The Water Cookbook is already making waves, with United Utilities and Scottish Water embracing the concept – each contributing 10 standard designs as a foundation; By leveraging generative design and procurement scalability, this initiative is saving both time and money;
- Gen AI Chemical Dosing – Optimising Water Treatment with Generative AI for Chemical (IF24)…
- What’s the Project? This cutting-edge AI-driven project is revolutionising chemical dosing in water treatment, using Generative AI to optimise dosing strategies in real-time; By integrating advanced machine learning models, we are enhancing accuracy, reducing waste, and ensuring cleaner, safer water for all;
- The problem we’re tackling – Traditional chemical dosing relies on fixed parameters and manual adjustments, leading to inefficiencies, excess chemical usage, and potential environmental impact; With increasing regulatory pressures and the need for cost-effective water treatment, a smarter, data-driven approach is essential;
- The Solution: Smarter, More Efficient, AI-Driven Dosing! By leveraging Generative AI, we can dynamically adjust dosing based on real-time water quality data, significantly improving precision, efficiency, and sustainability; This innovative approach reduces chemical usage, cuts costs, and minimises environmental footprint – all while maintaining the highest water quality standards;
- Droning on about Water Quality – A New Era of Water Monitoring (IF24)…
- What’s the Project? We’re revolutionising how we sample and monitor coastal bathing water quality with a cost-effective, highly versatile “drone and lab-in-a-box” system; This innovative approach will deliver real-time, on-site results with lab-grade accuracy, transforming the way we protect our waters;
- The problem we’re tackling – Current coastal water monitoring is time-consuming, expensive, and limited in coverage; Traditional sampling methods delay critical water quality insights, putting public health, marine life, and ecosystems at risk; A faster, smarter, and more adaptive solution is needed;
- The Solution: Smarter, Faster, Drone-Powered Monitoring! By integrating automated drones, robotics, and advanced water sampling techniques, we will dramatically enhance efficiency, precision, and adaptability in water monitoring; Smart Skies will ensure healthier waters across England and Wales, safeguarding customers, communities, and the environment; This is now a Transform Ofwat bid;
- Research and Innovation Priorities – Aligned with Strategic Themes and Long-Term Goals: 2050 Water Innovation Strategy – Spring Innovation; Spring Innovation – Accelerating Water Sector Transformation;
- Ofwat Funding – The Innovation Festival is a hot bed for brilliant Innovation Fund ideas; NWG has submitted 16 winners within the Ofwat Water Breakthrough Challenge and are taking part in 11 further Ofwat funded projects led by other water companies; After four rounds of the Water Breakthrough Challenge, NWG has won funding amounting to a total of £29,107,302, with Catalyst projects amounting to £10,068,208 and Transform projects amounting to £19,039,094;
- Collaboration with NWG – Understand their Priorities; Keep it Clear & Impactful; Engage with Innovation Platforms; Be Ready to Scale; Build Relationships & Trust; Be Persistent but Patient; Show Unique Value;
- Join NWG at Innovation Festival 2025: 7-11 July 2025, Newcastle Racecourse, Free to attend!
If you satisfy our regular delegate qualification criteria but were unable to join us in Leeds on April 2nd for the live in-person event at Nexus, CLICK HERE and complete the short “Download form” (located at the bottom of the post) to receive a unique link enabling free access to the presentation video recordings and slides (including the film footage and slides from Angela’s keynote).
Those qualifying to receive the rich presentation content from this event include commissioning, procurement, innovation, trialling and partnering leads, senior influencers, strategic decision makers, environmental managers, policy makers and planners from UK water companies and utilities, wastewater and sewer operators, lead local flood authorities (unitary authorities and county councils), city/borough/metropolitan councils, district councils, combined authorities, internal drainage boards, regional flood & coastal committees, highways authorities, prime contractors, general insurers, large water consumers, national agencies, central governmental and regulatory bodies (e.g. Defra, DCLG, Ofwat, Environment Agency, DWI, SEPA), independent industry and consumer organisations (e.g. Water UK, CCW), river trusts, NGOs etc.
