New national prize celebrates outstanding research in water

• Annual ‘National Watershot Prize’ will celebrate the UK’s best undergraduate or postgraduate research in water and environmental management.
• £25,000 prize fund for breakthrough original research addressing challenges faced by the water sector, from drought resilience to leakage detection.
• Part of a joint commitment between water companies, industry and government to recruit 50,000 people by 2030. 

Water UK has today launched a national prize for those working on the future of the water sector in the UK. The inaugural National Watershot Prize will celebrate the most innovative academic research into securing our water supplies and stopping sewage entering our rivers and seas.

The award is open to undergraduate researchers, postgraduate researchers, doctoral candidates and early-career academics who have recently published or are developing outstanding research to help the water sector meet the challenges of climate change and rapid population growth.

The winner or winning research team will receive a £15,000 prize in recognition of their research, with second and third-place applicants receiving £5,000 each. All shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend a prize-giving ceremony in January 2027.

Entries to the National Watershot Prize will be judged by an esteemed panel of academics, industry experts, and NGO representatives.  

The prize is part of a joint commitment between government, industry and water companies to recruit and train 50,000 people by 2030 to deliver critical infrastructure upgrades.

Water companies in England and Wales are investing £104 billion to the end of this decade. This is more than double the investment of the previous five years. That includes work on 9 new reservoirs – and will see 30,000 new jobs created across England and Wales. 

Water Minister, Emma Hardy said: “The National Watershot Prize is a fantastic opportunity to recognise the brilliant researchers who will help solve some of our biggest water challenges, from flood resilience to reducing sewage pollution. I can't wait to see how their work shapes the future of our industry.

"I've seen firsthand what long-term investment in water can achieve, from building new reservoirs to recycling waste into new resources. Over £104 billion of private investment is being spent to fix our pipes, build nine new reservoirs and secure water supplies for the future, and it's fantastic to see the next generation of innovators stepping up to be part of that change."

David Henderson, Water UK Chief Executive, said: "New discoveries and original research are needed to help secure our water supplies and reduce the impact of wastewater on the environment. With the National Watershot Prize, we hope to encourage the brightest minds in our universities to bring their talents, energy, and fresh perspectives to the water sector, helping us to pioneer the technologies of tomorrow." 

How to Apply

Applications are now open to those studying for, or within three years of, being awarded an undergraduate degree, master's or doctorate from a UK university.

• Submission Deadline: Monday 2 November at 11:59pm
• How to Submit: Applicants must submit a copy of their research, a copy of their CV and a covering letter via the official form. Full eligibility criteria is available here.
• Winner Announcement: The winners of the £25,000 prize fund will be announced at an industry prize giving ceremony in January 2027