New centre 'aims to solve the water challenges of the future'
We've been given access to the brand new 'future research' building at the University of Exeter
A new 'future research' building, which will look at things like whether South West Water can remove microplastics from the water they treat, has been officially opened on the campus of the University of Exeter.
The £30 million, Net Zero research centre aims to tackle 'global environmental challenges' and find solutions to stop water ending up with pollutants that need removing in the first place.
The Centre for Resilience in Environment, Water and Waste - or CREWW - is a first-of-its-kind partnership between South West Water, the University of Exeter and Research England to 'manage precious natural resources in ways which are sustainable, innovative and resilient'.
Susan Davy, Chief Executive Officer South West Water, said: “Seeing the progress already made, I am very clear that if there is a collaboration that can fix even one of the global water challenges we face, it’s this one.
"I believe, to make a real difference in the world, investments cannot just be about places, and facilities such as this, it’s about the people who make it happen – this is where I know CREWW will lead the way.”
She says South West Water is investing £21 million into CREWW 'recognising that the need for collaboration on important environmental issues has never been greater', adding: "Climate change is unfolding rapidly and is affecting the world’s water in complex ways. From unpredictable rainfall patterns to shrinking ice sheets, rising sea levels, floods and droughts – most impacts of climate change come down to water – whether a cause or an effect.
"CREWW’s research will future-proof water systems to cope with floods, droughts, and pollutants including microplastics, and make a real difference to peoples’ lives and the environment regionally, nationally and globally.
"This world leading collaboration is already developing ways to analyse microplastics in the water cycle and how to tackle them, how to alleviate ground water filtration into sewers which will help reduce the use of storm overflows as well as addressing many other challenges facing world wide water."
More details here via www.exeter.ac.uk/creww