Director of Environment at Welsh Water made Honorary Professor at Cardiff University

Anthony Harrington, Director of Environment at Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water (DCWW) has been awarded the title of Honorary Professor within the Cardiff University School of Biosciences. He received the honour in recognition of his ongoing support to academia, and in particular due to his work with Cardiff University’s flagship Water Research Institute.

Launched last year, the Water Research Institute was set up to address 'the grand challenge of water' – a set of large, complex and proliferating problems which can only be solved by integrated, innovative and transdisciplinary research. With the support of key stakeholders from the water sector, the Institute acts as an interface between academia and business, ensuring that research has a strong economic and social impact.

As a central figure in the water industry, Mr Harrington offers a strong link to the sector and its research needs, and since his appointment as Director of Environment at DCWW, has been very active in both supporting and funding water research at Cardiff University.

For example, DCWW is closely involved in the Cardiff-led £3.1m NERC funded Diversity in Upland Rivers for Ecosystem Service Sustainability project, where Mr Harrington has helped co-design the research on the role of microbes in purifying water quality.  And the knowledge exchange works both ways, with researchers from the Water Research Institute sitting on and chairing the DCWW Environment Advisory Panel.

On receiving the honorary professorship, Mr Harrington said

“At Welsh Water, collaboration and research play a key role in informing our work and our decisions – both in the short and long term. I hope that through such partnerships, we are better able to meet all the challenges we face, driving both innovative and valuable solutions better, and in so doing earn the trust of our customers every day.”

Dr Isabelle Durance, Director of the Water Research Institute, welcomed the opportunity to grow ever-closer links between the Institute and DCWW.

“Water is critical to life, the environment and the economy, and its misuse and growing scarcity is one of the world's greatest threats.

Building strong collaborations between academia and business is absolutely key to ensuring that we make a difference and provide effective solutions to real life water challenges.

In line with Welsh Government Water Strategy for Wales, DCWW and the Water Research Institute aim to build a better understanding of the broader societal and environmental responsibilities involved in safe water provision and treatment.”