Northumbrian Water will be exploring new ways in which it can improve and protect the environment at its Innovation Festival next month.
Environmental enthusiasts are being urged to sign up to the water company’s seventh Innovation Festival, held at Newcastle Racecourse between 10 and 13 July.
Topping the bill of the festival’s sprints, hacks and dashes, are several key environmental challenges for innovators to tackle, from river water quality to water-saving, under the theme of “Enviro-Warriors”.
One of the ‘sprints’ – a workshop-style session which follows a five-stage process - will look at how the company can use a ‘digital twin’ to help optimise the wastewater treatment process and reduce the risk of pollution.
Another session will crunch numbers and data to understand how Northumbrian Water can better empty its storm water storage tanks during heavy rainfall, to minimise the risk of spills to the environment.
Leading the way for the Enviro-Warriors sprints will be industry-leading experts from some huge international companies, including Microsoft, Water Aware Collective, Hydrodigital, Xylem, Siemens and Esri UK.
Gateshead Council, the Rivers Trust and Galliford Try will also be hosting environmental sprints at the festival.
Angela MacOscar, Head of Innovation at Northumbrian Water, said: “We share our customers’ passion for our coastline, rivers and lakes, and although we’re proud to have a strong environmental record, we are striving to do better.
“This year we’re really doubling down on our environmental agenda, with a number of sprints to tackle the pressing environmental challenges we face, head-on.
"By bringing together bright minds and experts, we aim to develop innovative solutions that will safeguard our environment for future generations."
For more details about the Northumbrian Water Innovation Festival, and to register for a sprint, go to www.innovationfestival.org