Partner Article

Northumbrian Water projects scoop two national environmental awards

Two innovative Northumbrian Water projects designed to reduce leaks and tackle sewer blockages across the North East have been recognised at a prestigious environmental awards ceremony.

The 2026 Environmental Monitoring & Measurement Achievement (EMMA) Awards, held in Birmingham, celebrate innovation and excellence in environmental monitoring and measurement.

Pipebot Patrol, which uses robotic technology to detect the signs of early-build ups in sewer pipes before they cause floods, was recognised in the ‘Innovative Sensor or Instrumental Deployment’ category.

Developed in partnership with the University of Sheffield, Cura Terrae Water, Minicam and Spring Innovation, Pipebot Patrol is helping to protect the environment from sewer flooding, reduce the need for emergency callouts and improve health and safety by minimising human exposure to sewers.

Meanwhile, a project delivered in partnership with FIDO Tech won the ‘Real-Time Monitoring & Control Project of the Year’ award for its AI-powered approach to leak detection.

More than 1,000 acoustic smart sensors were deployed across 149km of water network, helping teams identify and respond to leaks more quickly.

This helped save around 6.4 million litres of water per day during the cold winter period, when temperature changes can increase the risk of bursts and leaks.

Angela MacOscar, Head of Innovation at Northumbrian Water, said: “We're delighted that these projects have been recognised at the EMMA Awards.

“Innovation plays a vital role in helping us tackle the challenges facing the water industry, from reducing leaks to preventing sewer flooding, and improving how we monitor and manage our networks.

"By working closely with our partners and embracing new technology, we're able to find smarter ways to improve our environmental performance, protect our water resources and continue delivering benefits for our customers and communities."

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Northumbrian Water Group .