Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Innovation in the Water IndustryCarmen Snowdon, Principal Consultant
© WRc plc 2016© WRc plc 2016
• What is innovation?
• Why is it important?
• Drivers in the water industry
• Are we serious about innovation?
• Is it all about technology?
• Example innovations
© WRc plc 2016© WRc plc 2015© WRc plc 2016© WRc plc 2016
We are an independent centre of excellence for innovation & growth
© WRc plc 2016© WRc plc 2016
What is innovation?
“The process of translating an idea or invention into a good or service that creates value or for
which customers will pay.”The Business Dictionary
“It's difficult to see the picture when you're inside the frame.”
Eugene Kleiner
© WRc plc 2016© WRc plc 2016
• Competitiveness?
• Customer expectation
• Shareholder expectation
• Environmental demands
The importance?
“The arrogance of success is to think that what you did yesterday will be sufficient for tomorrow.”
William Pollard
© WRc plc 2016© WRc plc 2016
The water industry• Customer expectation
• Environmental needs (policy influence)
• Economic pressure to improve service and reduce bills
• New contaminants, pesticides, fertilisers, pharmaceuticals…
• Changing customer behaviours – water using products, items disposed via sewer…
© WRc plc 2016© WRc plc 2016
Motivation
Opportunity
Innovation
Ability
Are we serious about innovation?
© WRc plc 2016© WRc plc 2016
© WRc plc 2016© WRc plc 2016
Motivation
Opportunity
Innovation
Ability
Are we serious about innovation?
© WRc plc 2016© WRc plc 2016
People
Process
Innovation
Technology
Is it all about technology?
© WRc plc 2016© WRc plc 2016
Innovation
Technology
Some examplesRemember not necessarily specific to water – mobile technology, 3D printing,
advanced recycling…
Smart meters, high resolution logging & intelligent pressure
management
Conductivity sensor for pipelines
Non-contact sensor for wastewater parameters
In-pipe acoustic leak location
© WRc plc 2016© WRc plc 2016
Process
Innovation
Social media exploitation (non-specific to water!)
Toxicity Advisory Service
Integrated catchment modelling
Capital maintenance planning common framework – multi criterion based investment
© WRc plc 2016© WRc plc 2016
People
Innovation
Gamification
Knowledge sharing
Crowd-sourcing
Citizen science
© WRc plc 2016© WRc plc 2016
Final thoughts• We do do innovation – could we do more, with more
motivation and opportunity?
• Need to look outside of our industry to make major change –how do we best engage more widely – are we are shut shop?
• Need to be willing to take risk – is the water industry structure conducive to this?
• Must not mistake innovation for technology and vice versa… people and process are key. Is this well understood – are we too technology focussed?
© WRc plc 2016© WRc plc 2016
Carmen Snowdon
+44 (0) 1793 865150+44 (0) 7775 625445
