Written questions

Water Supply

Commons · Question 72492 · Tabled 29 Aug 2025 · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs · Official record

Answered 9 Sep 2025

Question

Asked by Ben Maguire

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what mechanisms exist for his Department to engage directly with SMEs providing patented technology to address (a) illegal sewage discharges and (b) freshwater shortages.

Answer

Answered by Emma Hardy, 9 Sep 2025

The Government is supporting innovation through Ofwat’s Innovation Fund, which has doubled in size to £400 million for 2025-2030. Since 2020, it has awarded funding to 109 projects - ranging from trialling artificial intelligence to detect algae in reserv...