UK utility using AI to tackle pollution in rivers

UK-utility Northumbrian Water is leading a project that will use machine learning to develop digital models that will help tackle pollution in rivers and other water bodies.

Improving river quality using AI

Northumbrian Water will work closely with a number of partners to develop 'open-source, scalable, digital models to inform effective action' through analysis of both existing data and novel data sets.

Speaking ahead of the project's launch, Nigel Watson, group information services director, Northumbrian Water Group, said: "The River Deep Mountain AI (RDMAI) project is set to revolutionise the way we gather insights and data on waterbody pollution – and will accelerate real positive environmental change across our regions."

New insights into complex water bodies

Machine learning will be used to analyse data sets to unlock new insights into the complex factors that impact on the quality of water in rivers and other such bodies. It is hoped this will bring a deeper understanding of these factors, help identify pollution, and accelerating positive change in water management.

The Northumbrian Water project is one of many projects now turning to AI to help tackle water pollution. Anglian Water is creating a digital twin of the River Stiffkey, a chalk stream, that will help the utility respond to river quality issues and meet the needs of its customers, not just in terms of providing clean drinking water, but also in terms of the social and environmental prosperity a clean river brings to the region.

Also in the UK, a Natural England-funded project will see Wrc partner with Rain++ and National Taiwan University to use citizen-sourced photos to map and detect pollution and monitor river health.

Project funded through Ofwat innovation award

The project was awarded €6 million from the UK water regulator Ofwat as part of its fourth Water Breakthrough Challenge, a competition designed to drive innovation and collaboration in the water sector.

Northumbrian Water will be partnered by ADAS, Anglian Water, Cognizant, Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water, Northern Ireland Water, South West Water, Stream, The Rivers Trust, Tidal, Google LLC, Uisce Éireann, Water Research Centre Limited, Wessex Water, and Xylem Inc.