Jeannette Henderson, co-lead for Innovation at Ofwat shares some of the winners of the latest round of funding from the 5th Water Breakthrough Challenge.

Hear some of the projects that are embracing drones, robotics and AI as Ofwat share £42m across 16 projects aiming to radically innovate within the water sector in England and Wales.

Jeanette shares how Ofwat are working with other regulators to also drive innovation in the way they regulate.

Finally find out what the future holds for the Innovation Fund, aiming to share £600m across by 2030.

Find out more about the 16 winning projects here: waterinnovation.challenges.org

Planet Possible is sponsored by BMA, Macklay and MWH Treatment

Credits

Presented & Produced by Niki Roach

Executive Producer Andy Taylor - Bwlb Limited

With thanks to Alastair Chisholm

Honorary Executive Producer Jane Boland

Main interview guest: Natalie Bennett - Green Party Peer, Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

Expert co-host: Michael Mattle - Head of Wastewater Technology at Hollinger

We're exploring how biocides – human-made chemicals that we find in products like surface cleaners and toothpastes – are impacting the microbiomes in our bodies and our environmental systems. In 2025 Green Party Peer, Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle, Natalie Bennett, brought a private members bill to Westminster to regulate the use of these chemicals in consumer products intended for human consumption. We hear what Biocides are, where we'll find them and why Natalie is pushing for a legislative change to regulate their use.

Co-host Michael Mattle, Head of Wastewater Technology at Hollinger reflects on what happens to these chemicals after use when they're released into the environment and explains how Switzerland has radically changed their approach to wastewater treatment, pushing beyond EU standards, to remove these types of chemicals.

Sponsors

Planet Possible is grateful to Mackley, Business Modelling Applications & MWH Treatment for their support.

Show Notes

You can read more about Natalie's thinking in her latest book - Change Everything.

Hear more on the specifics of Lake Geneva from Michael Mattle in this Guardian podcast.

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Credits

Presented & Produced by Niki Roach

Executive Producer Andy Taylor - Bwlb Limited

With thanks to Alastair Chisholm

Honorary Executive Producer Jane Boland

In today's episode we’re focusing on water that’s used by businesses, which makes up 30% of all the water that’s supplied in England. Join Sarah McMath, CEO of MOSl as we explore the challenges of needing to deliver an extra 5 billion litres of water each day into supply by 2050 and the opportunities - and challenges - presented by commercial water demand.

We explore...

1. Smart metering for business customers and the current lack of data to understand how much water they're using - and when.
2. News that Amazon, Microsoft and Google are planning to build hundreds of data centres across the globe, including in areas of water scarcity.
3. The opportunities to bring more diverse voices into the water sector to help tackle some of the challenges it faces over the next 10 years.

Planet Possible is supported by BMA, Mackley and MWH Treatment

Credits

Presented & Produced by Niki Roach

Executive Producer Andy Taylor - Bwlb Limited

With thanks to Alastair Chisholm

Honorary Executive Producer Jane Boland