A design for permeable paving slabs that absorb rainwater to mitigate flooding has won a share of £4 million from an Ofwat innovation fund.
The idea is one of 20 to receive funding in the latest round of the Water Discovery Challenge for progressing innovative ideas that address common challenges in the water sector.
Surface water poses the greatest flooding risk to cities, according to the National Infrastructure Committee’s report into drainage and water management. As demand for new housing leads to more green spaces being covered, ensure surface runoff and rainwater can seep into the ground will reduce flooding risks and lessen pressure on sewer networks.
Kiacrete, developed by a team from Imperial College London, uses an advanced material consisting of concrete with a bespoke plastic drainage structure to drain stormwater. It gradually releases water so the ground beneath the slabs does not get waterlogged.
“Water affects all industries, so with the Water Discovery Challenge we wanted to cast our net outside the sector, and see what those in adjacent industries propose to help us maintain a safe and sustainable supply,” said David Black, Ofwat chief executive.
“The finalist ideas address numerous core concerns for the future of the sector – from future-proofing cities to anticipating the impact of climate change, and we’re excited to help bring these ideas to life.”
Other winners included a filtration device that enables roadside drains to catch particulate pollution to stop plastics entering drainage networks to ultimately stop them entering rivers and seas. The system, from Guerilla Technologies, captures particulate matter – containing microscopic solids or liquid droplets, which can be inhaled and cause serious health problems.
Previous rounds have focused on innovators collaborating with water companies but this is the first round of finalists from outside of the sector.
The entrants will be awarded up to £50,000 each, with an opportunity for 10 to further develop their schemes and deliver pilots with an additional £450,000 available.
Other solutions range from hydropower turbines which can harvest electricity from water flowing through pipes, to a new membrane which could enable energy-efficient desalination, and a novel ‘spray-on’ pipe liner to repair leaks.