Photo: Rainwater harvesting in Botswanna
The innovation working group set up by Defra has published its views on the key areas where innovation is needed in the water sector. The top three are:
- Reducing leakage
- Adapting infrastructure to climate change
- Economic regulatory reform to incentivise markets and innovation
It will not come as any surprise that leakage is still one of the biggest challenges the industry faces, especially as more plastic pipework is used in the network. In the view of the blog the biggest issue is actually changing the culture so that innovation is accepted and welcomed.
Tesco, market leaders in a totally different field have a traffic light system for assessing innovation. Within three weeks of an idea being first mooted, it is tried out at the store level, reviewed at area level and if promising it is escalated straight up the line see if it should be rolled out nationally. Contrast this with the one month needed in the water industry just for an idea to be submitted and typically at least 6 months to be assessed.
The water industry needs to learn from other sectors. Rapid assessment and feedback on new ideas is vital and just as importantly suppliers need to have confidence they will be properly rewarded – otherwise they will turn to more attractive business sectors like oil and gas.
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