A world-first project to develop water neutral housing is taking place in the in the UK, thanks to a multi-million pound cash injection.

Affinity Water, which provides water services in central and eastern regions of England, won £2.9 million from the Water Breakthrough Challenge set up by Ofwat, the industry regulator. Working with a raft of partners, Affinity will be using the money to deliver sustainable, water-saving solutions at a trio of new housing developments.

Reaching water neutrality means ensuring the demand for water within a planning area after development is the same, or less, than it was before work began. It is seen by the UK government and water sector as a key way to meet the combined challenges of population growth, increased housing development and water scarcity.

“We need water neutrality to be delivered in the UK,” said Stuart Ledger, interim chief executive at Affinity Water. “Sustainable growth is essential given the ongoing impact of climate change and our pledge to net zero operational emissions by 2030.

"Thanks to Ofwat’s Breakthrough Challenge, we will kick start the launch of water neutrality in the UK with the world’s first at-scale project.”

The project is intended to help make future housing developments 'water neutral' by demonstrating how to minimise water demand and offset water consumption with new technologies, and ensure the total water use in the community remains the same as it was before new homes are built.

The first group of 1,000 homes will feature the instillation of technologies such as water efficient shower heads and washing machines, water-saving tap fittings and rainwater harvesting systems as well as alarms that are activated when a toilet overflows.

Site two will emphasise community-based approaches including installation of systems that reuse domestic wastewater from showers and sinks - known as grey-water - and commercial grade toilet systems at non-residential properties. Community liaison officers will help raise awareness and drive customer behaviour change.

The final housing development involved will be hybrid solution which uses approaches from sites one and two. This is intended to allow for a better understanding of both approaches, and whether one approach provides the necessary benefits or if a combination of both is needed.

“Our project will not only deliver value for our customers and those of our partners, but pave the way for technology and delivery innovation so that new housing developments have a water neutrality blueprint they can follow,” said Ed Barnes, project director and head of demand management and innovation at Affinity Water.

Ofwat's Water Breakthrough Challenge has led to the formation of exciting partnerships with water companies, including Airbus, Google DeepMind, Zoological Society of London and the Rivers Trust. These innovative cross-industry partnerships are a vital step in improving services for water users and reducing the sector's environmental footprint.