A leading national water science facility has been officially opened at Cranfield University.
The UKCRIC Water Science Building was officially opened by Dame Deirdre Hutton, Chancellor of Cranfield University
The Water Science Building is funded by government through UKCRIC (the UK Collaboratorium for Research on Infrastructure and Cities) and Cranfield University.
During lockdown, the facility has been at the heart of Cranfield’s contribution to the national Covid-19 wastewater testing programme. Using the facility, scientists at Cranfield developed low-cost sensors and monitored the virus in wastewater flows from schools and other locations.
The facility features dedicated laboratories to support the development of advanced sensors and point-of-use treatment technologies as well as a Breakthrough Innovation Hub. These complement the new National Research Facility for Water and Wastewater Treatment, which is also based at Cranfield and part funded through UKCRIC.
The building strengthens Cranfield’s capabilities in both the fundamental science which underpins sustainable water management and the design and development of new technologies to help the water industry solve its most pressing challenges.
Professor Paul Jeffrey, Director of Water at Cranfield University, said:
“This facility, together with the National Research Facility for Water and Wastewater Treatment, is already playing a key role in advancing knowledge in sustainable water management and helping the national efforts to combat the spread of Covid-19.
“We are delighted to be playing our part in the work that UKCRIC is doing to secure and enhance the nation’s infrastructure and resilience.”
With over 40 years’ experience in the sector, Cranfield is recognised internationally for its work in the science, engineering and management of water.
The University has partnerships with the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Yorkshire Water, Severn Trent and Anglian Water.
Cranfield’s activities are underpinned by world-class facilities, including a pilot-plant hall at the University’s own sewage treatment works, state-of-the-art soil and water laboratories, a grey water treatment pilot area, a managed borehole drilling site and soil and irrigation testing facilities.
The National Research Facility for Water and Wastewater Treatment, opened in 2019, comprises dedicated multiple bay water and wastewater treatment halls. The water science laboratories include new facilities for researching point-of-use water treatment devices and advanced sensors for monitoring water quality in treatment tanks and distribution systems.
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