UKWIR research projects covering leakage, wastewater capacity, drinking-water treatment, emerging water demands and river restoration are open for expressions of interest as the organisation moves to a phased research programme through 2026 and early 2027.
UK Water Industry Research (UKWIR) is seeking expert partners to deliver targeted research addressing priorities identified across the UK and Irish water sector.
The first tranche includes five projects spanning climate-related pipe bursts, wastewater treatment capacity, orthophosphate dosing, water demand from emerging technologies and river restoration.
Five UKWIR research projects open for expressions of interest
The current round includes research into:
- 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.
Expressions of interest for the first round must be submitted by midnight on 19 October 2026.
Full project details and application information are available through UKWIR’s Expressions of Interest portal.
Research programme moves to phased release model
UKWIR is moving to a phased research programme, with projects being released in three tranches across 2026 and early 2027.
The organisation says the staggered approach is intended to give researchers, water-sector organisations and supply-chain partners more opportunities to contribute expertise throughout the year.
Mike Rose, chief executive of UKWIR, said: “These research projects are specifically tailored to support the key strategic priorities of the water sector.
Mike Rose, chief executive of UK Water Industry Research. Image: UKWIR
“Whether here in the UK & 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.”
Future projects to cover climate resilience and micropollutants
Further opportunities are expected later in 2026, covering additional challenges across leakage, wastewater, asset management and the circular economy.
Planned leakage research includes leak-repair times, leakage benchmarking and approaches to more efficient repair.
Future wastewater projects are expected to address climate resilience, micropollutants and the biodegradation of organic pesticides.
Asset-management research will include nature-based solutions and the use of data to improve drinking-water production, while circular-economy work will examine opportunities to create more climate-resilient wastewater systems.
These themes align with UKWIR’s wider research strategy, which focuses on areas including resilient infrastructure, clean water, environmental protection, net zero and responsible resource use.
Collaboration targets practical water-sector challenges
UKWIR is an independent not-for-profit organisation that manages collaborative research programmes for water companies in the UK and Ireland.
Its current research strategy is organised around seven mission-based themes, ranging from resilient infrastructure and clean water to natural systems, net zero and future-ready partnerships.
The latest UKWIR research projects add to a wider programme intended to turn research into evidence, tools and practical approaches that can support operational and investment decisions across the sector.
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Source: UK Water Industry Research (UKWIR)
