Anglian Water's @one Alliance
AI Phosphorus Forecasting
Anglian Water’s @one Alliance explores live deployment of AI Phosphorus Forecasting Technology across the Anglian Water region!
Anglian Water’s @one Alliance is continuing to drive innovation across the water sector as its Data, Digital & Innovation (DDaI) team progresses the next phase of the pioneering Foresite project, bringing advanced predictive analytics closer to live operational deployment.
Following the successful completion of the Foresite Predicting Phosphorus Research Trial, the team recently visited Cotton Valley Water Recycling Centre in Milton Keynes to explore how the technology can transition from a successful proof of concept into a real-world operational environment.
The Digital, Data & Innovation team collaborating with Anglian Water colleagues to understand the feasability of adopting this on site
Initially launched in June 2024, the Foresite project was developed with a clear objective: to harness the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) to accurately predict phosphorus levels entering water recycling centres before they occur.
The initiative comes at a crucial time for the water industry, with phosphorus discharge remaining one of the sector’s most significant environmental challenges and regulatory standards continuing to tighten. By forecasting elevated phosphorus levels in advance, operational teams can take earlier, more informed action, helping to improve treatment efficiency, reduce environmental impact and support more sustainable delivery across the region.
The project has been delivered through a collaborative partnership involving Cranfield University and leading technology organisations Microsoft, Databricks and Meteomatics, combining expertise in water science, data engineering and predictive modelling.
Collaboration out on site
During the research trial, the team achieved an impressive 89% accuracy rate in forecasting phosphorus levels using a combination of telemetry, laboratory sampling and weather data. The results demonstrated the significant potential for data-driven technologies to transform operational decision-making within the water recycling process.
And now attention is now shifting towards implementation. The recent visit to Cotton Valley Water Recycling Centre marked an important milestone in assessing how predictive forecasting can be integrated into day-to-day operational delivery.
During the visit, the DDaI team explored site feasibility, operational considerations and the practical challenges associated with embedding the technology into live treatment environments.
The project team also examined how Foresite could support proactive decision-making on site, enabling teams to respond more effectively to forecasted phosphorus surges and improving the agility of treatment operations.
Understanding the adoption process of integrating this onto sites across the region
Phil Ashton Briggs, Digital Squad Lead, said:
“Foresite demonstrates the power of collaboration and innovation in tackling some of the water industry’s biggest environmental challenges. The progress we’ve made through predictive analytics and machine learning is helping us better understand how we can support smarter operational decision-making across our sites.
“Visiting Cotton Valley was an important next step in understanding how we move this from a successful trial into a live operational solution that can deliver long-term benefits for both the environment and our customers.”
The project forms part of Anglian Water’s wider AMP8 ambitions, with teams now exploring how predictive phosphorus forecasting could support the Alliance’s £750 million phosphorus removal programme across the region.
By integrating predictive modelling into operational processes, the technology has the potential to enable faster deployment of treatment solutions, improve resilience and support a more sustainable approach to water recycling operations.
Foresite is also just one of several innovation-led initiatives currently being developed by the @one Alliance’s Data, Digital & Innovation team, as the organisation continues to explore how emerging technologies can support smarter infrastructure delivery and environmental performance across the East of England.
Cotton Valley Water Recycling Centre
For More Information, contact us at https://anglianwatercareers.co.uk/one-alliance/
Civil Engineer
Apply NowJoin the @one Alliance – a collaborative partnership of eight industry‑leading companies (Anglian Water, Balfour Beatty, Barhale, Binnies, MMB, MWH Treatment, Skanska, and SWECO) delivering over half of Anglian Water’s capital investment programme. As we prepare for the challenges and opportunities of AMP8, we’re looking for talented individuals to help us shape the future of water infrastructure.
At Anglian Water, we’re Always Exploring – ensuring we remain competitive, attractive, and rewarding for both existing and prospective employees. By Doing The Right Thing, we’re committed to recognising and rewarding our people fairly and transparently, while Building Trust through a culture that prioritises health, safety, and wellbeing.
Your Purpose
As a Civil Engineer within one of our four business units, you’ll create and develop value-driven civil designs that achieve our capital investment programme outcomes and deliver value.
Under the direction of the Project Design Manager, you’ll deliver a range of Civil Engineering projects which not only continues to provide the region with safe drinking water, but be involved in pioneering and environmentally- focussed work which enhances our region’s prosperity now and in years to come.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Production of civil designs, calculations and specifications for water-sector assets, design schedule and specify pipes, including ductile iron, steelwork and plastic.
- Working within multi-discipline design teams to produce designs which are on time, within budget and meet the required standards, liaising with stakeholders including Operations, contractors, and suppliers along the way.
- Drive excellence in Health and Safety in design by eliminating hazards and reducing risks during design whilst complying with Alliance CDM procedures.
- Progress projects from feasibility stage through detailed design to construction.
- Undertake site visits to assess current condition of our assets for feasibility studies, reports and provide survey data for integration of the asset into our design solution.
- Provide support to update existing, and increase the number of, Standard Products that are used within our design solutions on a repeatable basis.
- Identify and promote opportunities to meet the project digital, sustainability, innovation and people objectives.
About You
You will ideally have:
- BEng or MEng/MSc Degree in Civil or Structural Engineering, ideally working towards attaining Chartered Engineer status
- Good knowledge and experience of undertaking structural calculations for various concrete structures, and demonstrable experience in undertaking design of various civil engineering structures
- Experience with relevant engineering design software packages
- Confident in the utilisation of British Standards and Eurocodes and have the ability to interpret ground investigation reports to enable you to design the correct solution
- Team work and collaboration skills
- Strong reporting writing and data analysis skills
- Ability to professionally challenge current ways of working and suggests new approaches
Depending on your skills, experience, and interests, you could be aligned to one of our four business units:
Place Based Thinking
The Place Based Thinking team delivers some of the largest and most complex projects across the @one Alliance. Made up of six Senior Project Manager teams, we oversee 19 catchments, covering key sites such as Whitlingham, Flag Fen, Great Billing, Cotton Valley, Bedford, Colchester, and Ipswich Cliff Quays. These projects involve managing all parts of the network from rising and gravity mains, pumping stations, high spilling overflows, and water recycling centres.
Water
The Water Business Unit provides strategic support across the clean water network, covering both system performance and infrastructure planning. We assess the future hydraulic state of the network in response to population growth and increased demand, support the design and delivery of capital and infrastructure schemes to ensure hydraulic resilience, and work with optimisation teams to enhance overall network efficiency.
Water Recycling (East and West)
Our Water Recycling Business Unit, split into East and West regions, is responsible for the collection, conveyance, and treatment of wastewater across an extensive network. We operate over 76,000 km of sewerage infrastructure and 1,163 treatment centres, ensuring safe and sustainable discharge to the environment while driving innovation and environmental performance.
Why Join Us?
This is a fantastic opportunity to work with one of the UK’s most successful capital delivery alliances. You’ll have the chance to contribute to cutting‑edge projects that shape the future of water infrastructure, working alongside a team of experts across various disciplines. We offer a culture that values innovation, continuous learning, and professional growth, with a focus on delivering sustainable solutions that make a positive environmental impact.
At Anglian Water’s @one Alliance, we believe in being Safer Every Day
Safety is at the heart of everything we do. Being Safer Every Day means making positive choices, moment by moment, to protect ourselves and those around us. We create a culture where health, safety and wellbeing come first.
Together, we will be the change