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Overview of the Programme and Its Objectives
The Water Efficiency Lab 1 (WEL 1) is the first competition within the Water Efficiency Lab, a new challenge-led initiative established by Ofwat to support innovative solutions that drive sustained and measurable reductions in water demand across England and Wales.
The programme responds to the urgent national challenge of water scarcity by funding innovations that provide customers with actionable insights to help them understand and reduce their water use. WEL 1 specifically focuses on empowering households and businesses with clearer, more granular and more meaningful information that enables behavioural change.
WEL 1 is delivered collaboratively by Ofwat, Challenge Works, Isle Utilities and Arup and forms part of the wider £25 million Water Efficiency Lab programme running between 2025 and 2030.
What the Programme Supports
WEL 1 supports the development, testing and implementation of innovative solutions that deliver tailored water usage insights and motivate customers to reduce consumption.
Supported solutions may include, but are not limited to:
All proposed solutions must demonstrate a clear potential to reduce water use for customers in England and Wales.
Who Can Apply
WEL 1 is open to a wide range of organisations delivering innovative water efficiency solutions, including:
The lead entrant must:
Applications from individuals or unincorporated groups are not eligible.
Funding and Support Available
WEL 1 offers:
Funding can cover up to 90% of total eligible project costs, with a mandatory 10% match contribution required from entrants. Match funding can be financial or in-kind, depending on the organisation type.
Winners retain full ownership of their Intellectual Property Rights, with no requirement to provide royalty-free licences.
Key Dates and Timeline
How Inventya Can Help
Inventya supports organisations developing innovative water efficiency solutions to navigate complex challenge-led funding programmes. Our support includes:
With Inventya’s guidance, your Water Efficiency Lab application is clearer, more focused and better aligned with what assessors are looking for in high-impact water innovation projects.
