Midlands water company Severn Trent is going international, as it’s launched a competition to seek innovation from across the globe to help reduce storm overflow spills.

It’s ‘Wavemakers International’ competition, is seeing the company look for innovative ideas and solutions from suppliers from all corners of the world to join forces with to help find ways to achieve zero spills.

Working with water technology consultancy, Isle Utilities, suppliers whose ideas are trialled could be awarded with a share of £750,000.

Ideas will then be trialled at the company’s ‘Zero Spills Hub’ that’s been developed specifically to try and test technologies the company is already working on, that could revolutionise how the industry tackles challenges around spills.

Jess Alce, Innovation Lead at Severn Trent said: “We know that there’s some incredible ideas and innovations around the world, that could help transform stormwater management and help see zero spills from overflows. This competition is about bringing together the brightest and best ideas that use things like artificial intelligence and innovation to explore ways we can reduce the need for overflows.

“It’s really exciting to use innovation in this way, and the role it can play as we already do so much with innovation across every aspect of our business. We’re confident that we’ll find some incredible ideas that will compliment how we currently do things and see us going even further in our role in protecting our rivers and the environment around us.”

Stuart Moss, European Managing Director of Isle Utilities: “This is a global invitation to join forces with Severn Trent at their Zero Spills Hub, where together, we can create a ripple effect of positive change.”

Severn Trent is seeking innovative ideas and solutions to address key challenges in the following areas:

• Support Optimisation

Explore innovative approaches, with a focus on AI and Smart Control, to enhance efficiency and optimize to prevent spills across both waste networks and waste treatment facilities.

• Enable Separation

Propose solutions for the effective separation of different waste streams. Consider surface water separation, rainwater harvesting, and other methods to minimize harm to the environment.

• Treatment Enhancement

Develop novel treatments for wastewater, whether at the treatment works to allow more flow to pass through or within the network.

• Smart Storage and Flushing Solution

Design intelligent storage systems for wastewater and rainwater, considering both short-term and long-term needs.

“Our customers can trust that we’re taking our role on rivers seriously. We’re committed to doing what it takes to on this industry-wide issue, and we’re looking forward to the opportunity to bolster the work we’re already doing, that could help change the future of wastewater management,” adds Jess.

The competition supports Severn Trent’s commitment to go further and faster when it comes to reducing spills and improving river health.

This year alone it’s also investing £450m across 900 overflows that will reduce spills from them by 20%, it’s also set to invest over £1.1bn on storm overflows to get their impact to near zero by 2030.

Severn Trent has also again recently been awarded the highest 4-star status in the Environmental Performance Assessment (EPA) for a fifth consecutive year by the Environment Agency. The first time this has ever been achieved.

The Wavemakers International competition closes on 13^th September 2024.

For more information and to apply, visit Zero Spills Hub | Innovation | Severn Trent Plc