National Watershot Prize
£15,000
First prize
£5,000
Second and Third prizes each
What is the prize?
The water sector is facing generational challenges, from securing our water supplies in response to climate change, population growth and new data centres, to cleaning up our rivers, lakes and seas. Solving these challenges requires cutting-edge research and innovation.
The National Watershot Prize is an annual award of £25,000 in recognition of the top three most promising early-career researchers, or team of researchers, working on the challenges facing the water industry. It is funded by Water UK - the trade association for water companies - and judged by an expert panel.
It is free to enter, open to any discipline, and open to researchers of any nationality studying or working in the UK.
The prize is split between the top three entries:
- 1st place: £15,000
- 2nd and 3rd place: £5,000 each
“The National Watershot Prize is a fantastic opportunity to recognise the brilliant researchers who will help solve some of our biggest water challenges. I can't wait to see how their work shapes the future of our industry."
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Applicants’ research needs to have addressed the challenges faced by the water industry, which could include (but is not limited to) the following topics:
- Adapting to climate change
- Tackling water pollutants
- Harvesting rainwater
- Improving water efficiency
- Promoting sustainable drainage
- Preventing blockages
- Improving asset health
More details on relevant research can be found in the Applicant Guidance.
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You can apply if, on the closing date, you are:
- Studying for a master's or a doctorate at a UK university; or
- Within three years of being awarded an undergraduate degree, master's or doctorate from a UK university; or
- In your first postdoctoral or early-career research post, within three years of your doctoral award.
Applicants may be of any nationality with the right to study or work in the UK.
Teams can apply, with one named lead applicant who handles correspondence. Every member of the team needs to meet the criteria above.
You are encouraged to apply even if you think your research might be beyond the scope of the award or are adjacent to the water sector.
You can view the full eligibility criteria in the Applicant Guidance
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Submissions should be made via this form.
This will open from 10:00am GMT on Thursday 3rd September. The deadline for submissions is 23:59pm GMT on Monday 2nd November.
What to submit:
- A copy of your research, which can be a published paper, thesis, or a summary of your ongoing research programme
- A copy of your CV (two pages maximum)
- A 500-word covering letter summarising the content of your research
- Proof of study, enrolment or employment
If you have any questions, email the team at [email protected].
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Applications will be shortlisted by Water UK’s policy experts. The first, second and third place prizes will be chosen by a panel of experts from the environmental sector, academia and public life. Applications will be assessed by the following criteria:
- Research quality
- Originality
- Relevance to industry challenges
- Communication and clarity
Applicants who are shortlisted will be invited to an awards’ ceremony in January 2027, where the winner will be announced.
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National Watershot Prize 2026 Terms and Conditions
Applicant guidance
Apply now
The deadline for submissions is 23:59 GMT on Monday 2nd November.
About the water sector
The water sector plays a critical role in powering the UK’s economic growth and investing in people to deliver the £104 billion programme of investment to help build more homes, secure our water supplies and end sewage entering our rivers and seas.
£104bn
Investment programme
30,000
new jobs to be created
50,000
people to be recruited by 2030