5 December, 2025

The average person in England consumes a startling 152 litres of water daily. If that statistic surprises you, you’re in good company. 94% of people underestimate the amount of water they use, with over one fifth believing it’s less than 20 litres. And with population growth and climate change expected to create a 5-billion litre daily shortfall by 2055, addressing the disconnect between knowledge and consumption is critical. 

Responding to this , Ofwat has launched the Water Efficiency Lab, backed by £25 million, forming part of its broader £100m Water Efficiency Fund. The lab is set to allocate funding to develop technologies that give consumers improved insight into their water consumption, as well as practical ways to cut this down. 

The lab’s initial focus will be on closing this gap, findings ways to provide consumers with insights that will help them to shift their behaviour. Some initial ideals include solutions like smart data platforms that provide real-time behavioural nudges or incentives for reduction, monitoring systems for fixtures that track usage of appliances, or combined leak detection and consumption systems that offer behavioural feedback. 

As the Ofwat CEO stated “consumers and businesses want to use water responsibly, but most don’t have the information they need”. The lab initiative therefore responds to this, enabling millions of people to make small shifts in their behaviour to “protect the environment and build a more resilient water system”. 

The lab’s first competition is now open to UK innovators, with entries judged on impact, innovation, feasibility, and adoption potential. We’re excited to see the ideas that come from this initiative, and how improved knowledge and insight will empower consumers and businesses to reduce their water usage.

By Rosie Serlin