Welsh Water Research Funding Award

9th February 2010 

Dwr Cymru Welsh Water is inviting students planning environmental research projects to apply for the 2010 Mike Panes Bursary Award.

The company is offering the annual Award to a student focusing on the water and environmental sectors. Application forms have been issued by the Chartered Institute for Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM), on behalf of Welsh Water, and sent to Universities across Wales for distribution to relevant students.

The closing date for submissions is set for 19th February, with applications welcomed from both undergraduate and post-graduate students. The £2000 bursary award will be made at the CIWEM (Wales) Annual Dinner in early March.

Successful 2009 bursary student Nathan Phillips used his additional funding for research into his project on water and wastewater treatment processes. Nathan said, “The award was a well received bonus that I was not expecting and it really did allow my research to go to extra lengths, for which I am really grateful to Welsh Water.”

Nathan’s project examined a particular treatment of drinking water required under certain conditions to protect tap water quality. He then studied the kind of consequent treatment required to enable the wastewater to be safely returned to the environment. His research findings are leading to environmental benefits and reduced costs.

Welsh Water managing director Nigel Annett said, “This bursary is a fitting way to remember the late Mike Panes who was a well-respected engineer in the Welsh Water team. The award helps students to fund their research projects, which in turn deliver important information to Welsh Water and helps us to pursue our goal of providing the best quality service to customers while protecting our environment.”

Enquiries about the bursary award can be made to dwrcymru@wepr.co.uk or by calling the Welsh Water press office on 029 2055 6140.

Welsh Water is investing heavily and working hard to ensure top quality services to all its communities in Wales. The company is investing £1.4 billion in its water and sewerage network between 2005 and 2010.

It is a not-for-profit company with the sole objective of providing top quality services for its customers. Welsh Water does not have shareholders, and any profits made are reinvested in the business for the benefit of customers, as well as for returning to customers as ‘dividends’. The customer dividend for 2009/10 is £22 for each customer receiving both water and wastewater services.