Catchment Systems Thinking Cooperative (CaSTCo)
Water companies are regulated by Ofwat, and are expected to meet a certain standards, and share data where relevant. It is important that crucial data about England and Wales’ water environment is gathered and shared, in particular on the health of the nation’s rivers, in order to collaboratively answer our mutual challenges.
A part of a wider partnership led by University of Exeter, South West Water, United Utilities between the Rivers Trust, twelve water and sewerage companies as well as academia and environmental charities– that was awarded £7.1 million by Ofwat, this project is one of our largest. It’s aim is to revolutionise the way crucial data about England and Wales’ water environment is gathered and shared, in particular on the health of the nation’s rivers. This project will ensure there is robust evidence base for tackling environmental challenges with direct support for local evidence gathering and community engagement in eight demonstration catchments, and a national framework of standardised tools and training.
Alongside the “Upstream Thinking Upscaled” element of the project, South West Water will be working with other project partners locally, namely Devon Wildlife Trust and Westcountry Rivers, supporting their Citizen Science Initiative in the Tamar catchment, enhancing our data and insight into river health through citizen-led monitoring activities.
Team members
- Prof Rich Brazier
- Laura Shears
- Dr Mandy Robinson
- Dr Ben Jackson
- Dr Jess Kitch
- Dr Peter Melville-Shreeve
- Dr Diego Panici
- Dr Marwa Waly
Funding
- South West Water
- Ofwat
- University of Exeter
Local Project partners
- West Country Rivers Trust
- Devon Wildlife Trust
Wider Project partners
Catchment Systems Thinking Cooperative (CaSTCo) - Ofwat Innovation Fund (challenges.org)
- The Rivers Trust
- Thames Water Utilities Ltd
- Southern Water Services Ltd
- Dŵr Cymru Anglian Water Services Ltd
- Severn Trent Water Ltd
- Yorkshire Water Services Ltd
- Northumbrian Water Ltd
- Affinity Water
- South East Water
- Earthwatch Institute
- The Freshwater Biological Association
- The Zoological Society of London
- UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology
- Cardiff University
- Natural Course EU Life Integrated Project
- Hummingbird Technologies
