The cost of water and waste water management in the UK exceeds £8 billion per year, and these costs will rise if business-as-usual approaches continue in the face of climate change and population growth. Flooding and water pollution cost taxpayers an additional £3 billion each year, and emergency water restrictions during drought can exceed tens of billions of pounds. On a global scale, these challenges are even more acute. 

CREWW addresses these challenges using state of the art laboratory facilities and collaborative spaces, where researchers from multiple disciplines work with water industry colleagues to co-create engineering, digital, nature-based, economic and behaviour-based solutions which deliver multiple benefits to the environment, society and the economy. This includes looking at how to manage both natural resources and infrastructure to ensure there is sufficient water to cope with population growth, the pressures of climate change, and improving resilience to the potentially devastating effects of flood and drought. Alongside, research into emerging pollutants, trialling innovative approaches to protect public health and water quality.  

Water research at Exeter