Summary of the Event

I participated in the 2021 Northumbrian Water Innovation Festival, a large‑scale collaborative event bringing together nearly 4,000 participants from over 40 countries to tackle major challenges facing the water sector. The festival uses design sprints, hacks and rapid‑ideation workshops to generate practical solutions to environmental, operational and societal issues.

The 2021 theme, “The Brilliant Get‑Together,” focused on reconnecting people after the disruption of Covid‑19 and accelerating innovation across utilities, technology providers, academia, government and community organisations. Sessions were fast‑paced, creative and highly collaborative, with contributions from global experts and special guests.

Key Themes Covered

• Asset management and resilience
  Including tools to predict asset tipping points and optimise investment decisions.
• Smart metering and digital transformation
  Exploring sustainable meter design, new sensor technologies and enhanced customer engagement.
• Customer behaviour and water efficiency
  Approaches to shift public attitudes toward water use and promote long‑term behavioural change.
• Flooding prediction and prevention
  Development of data‑driven models and risk calculators to reduce sewer flooding.
• Leakage reduction
  Proactive, predictive approaches combining customer education, data analytics and targeted interventions.
• Cross‑sector collaboration
  Participants from utilities, tech, design, manufacturing, government and NGOs worked together to generate solutions.