The innovations making waves in the future of water

A new online film series is showcasing incredible innovations taking place across the world of water, highlighting game-changing technological advancements and ways communities are coming together to protect this precious resource.

With themes shaped by the International Water Association (IWA) and the featured films produced on behalf of content partners by BBC StoryWorks Commercial Productions, the stories in Beneath the Surface spotlight some of the incredible projects around the world aimed at securing this essential element.

We know water is critical to our survival – yet, with populations growing worldwide and climates changing, there are challenges to securing this resource for the future. This is why the IWA is dedicated to generating and spreading knowledge, especially on the potential of technology, to ensure communities worldwide can have access to the water we need now and into the future.

Taking a deep dive into the world of water, this brand new series celebrates some of the pioneers around the world working to keep this precious resource safe – from taking inspiration from nature to filter water in Copenhagen, to monitoring the maze of underground water pipes in a Romanian city, to repurposing a hydroelectric dam in the mountains of Italy to provide a community with a more reliable water supply, these stories range from the microscopic to the vast, showing the ripple effect across the water industry. Valuing every drop of water is critical to preserving the huge quantities required to sustain communities of today and the future.

Our film, produced for AGS – Water Solutions by BBC StoryWorks Commercial Productions, tells the story of how collaboration between players in the water sector is critical in transferring knowledge and lessons learned to increase the efficiency in the urban management of such an important resource such as water. In the past years, AGS has learnt from academia, research and has implemented proven and structured methodologies in its own water and wastewater utilities. The knowledge generated from this process has given AGS the tools to collaborate with external water utilities to support them in improving their own operation and efficiency. This film, follows the work of two AGS collaborators, José Miguel Maia and Pedro Ramalho, who have moved to Constança, Romania, and with the team in Portugal, are working together with RAJA water utility to reduce non-revenue water by establishing/implementing a tailored strategic plan, improving the network control and operational procedures, training local teams and implementing specialized software. This is a 5-year project that will surely contribute to mitigate water losses in an urban context.

Beneath the Surface launches on www.beneaththesurfaceseries.com on 8th September 2022, shortly before the IWA’s World Water Congress & Exhibition, and will run for 12 months.

Dr Kala Vairavamoorthy, Executive Director of the International Water Association, said: “Water touches every part of our lives. As the UN Sustainable Development Goals show, a great deal of action is needed. Climate change in particular will add to this need. Beneath the Surface helps raise awareness of the work that goes on, often behind the scenes, to secure our water future.”

Simon Shelley, vice president of BBC StoryWorks Programme Partnerships, said: The aim of this series is to show how the water industry is rising to the challenge of building greater security, resilience, and stewardship in global water systems with a steady stream of pioneering solutions. It’s been a pleasure to tell these stories, and we hope the series will encourage viewers to consider how we can manage our most precious resource more wisely.

Beneath the Surface is available to explore here – https://www.bbc.com/storyworks/beneath-the-surface/the-city-below

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