Yorkshire Water Begins Real Time AI Water Quality Project

Yorkshire Water, in collaboration with AI specialists UnifAI Technology, has started an innovative research project that uses AI modelling to provide real-time water quality predictions at designated bathing water sites across the county.

If successful, the two-year project could transform how water quality is currently monitored at inland bathing sites, giving swimmers, paddlers and other recreational river users clearer, quicker and more accessible information than ever before.

Dan Byles, CCO at UnifAI Technology, explains: “Current water quality monitoring relies on periodic sampling and laboratory testing. Although essential, these processes are time‑consuming and only provide a historic picture of conditions rather than what is happening at the moment people enter the water.

“As a result, the public often learns about potential health risks after the fact. Knowing swimming in recent days or weeks may have exposed people to high levels of bacteria is too late; the UnifAI Technology and Yorkshire Water research collaboration is looking to accelerate this process through AI learning.”

The research project is funded through Ofwat’s Water Breakthrough Challenge 5 Catalyst stream. Working in partnership with UnifAI Technology, The Rivers Trust and the British Standards Institution (BSI), and with support from Southern Water and environmental monitoring company, SOCOTEC.

The project combines current, manual flow and water quality monitoring with 2-years of AI machine learning to create a predictive model of water quality in real time. Specialist flow and water quality monitoring technology installed by SOCOTEC will take readings every 15-minutes at each of the 20 bathing water sites. These riverside sensors measure individual chemical parameters such as dissolved oxygen, pH levels, ammonia, temperature, and turbidity.

This real-time data is combined with the results of water samples, taken 4-times per week at each individual site, which have been lab-tested for the presence of harmful bacteria such as E.Coli and Enterococci.

It is hoped more than 7,800 data sets, gathered over 24-months will give UnifAI Technology’s machine learning sufficient analytics and time to develop advanced AI models capable of predicting levels of harmful bacteria, such as E.coli and Enterococci, in near real time.

Faye Cossins, Coastal Delivery & Engagement Manager at Yorkshire Water, said:
“We know that people are passionate about their Yorkshire rivers and waterways, and they rightly want clearer, quicker information about water quality. This project has real potential to give communities near real‑time insights so they can make confident, informed decisions about taking a dip.

“We’re pleased to be leading this work with our partners and with funding from Ofwat’s Breakthrough Challenge. It’s an important step forward in innovation, transparency and preparing for future environmental monitoring requirements.”

“Using specialist monitoring sensors, on‑site sampling and UnifAI Technology machine‑learning, the 2-year project will gather over 7,800 samples from 20 varied inland bathing water sites. This data will be used to build a transferable, “site‑agnostic” AI model that can predict bacteria levels across different water types — from rivers to lidos to coastal inlets. If proven, the technology has the potential to be deployed widely and at scale.”

A key aim of the project is to make data openly available. In future, if the project is successful, the public will be able to access near-live water quality predictions through a user-friendly web app, helping them make informed decisions before entering the water. Regulators and partners will also benefit from accessible, real-time insights to support environmental protection, planning and investment.

Inland bathing water sites taking part in the project include Ilkley, Wetherby and Knaresborough, with popular water recreation sites at Masham, Burley in Wharfedale, Harrogate North, Springfield Avenue Bridlington, Doncaster Rowing Club, Dowley Gap and Scalby Beck, also included. Further locations are expected to be added soon.

Isabell Holling, Managing Director of Monitoring & Surveying at SOCOTEC UK & Ireland, said: “We are pleased to support this groundbreaking project by deploying our specialist environmental monitoring technology across 20 appointed inland bathing water sites. The precision and reliability of continuous water quality data is fundamental to the success of this AI-driven approach.

“Our equipment will provide the robust, high-frequency measurements needed to train predictive models that can truly protect public health. This collaboration demonstrates how advanced monitoring technology and artificial intelligence can work together to transform environmental management and deliver real-time insights that benefit both communities and regulators.”

Although the project represents a major step forward in innovation, the AI model requires two full years of data collection and testing before its accuracy can be confirmed — and, if successful, the technology will give people clearer, real-time information, it does not replace ongoing investment work to improve water quality and reduce pollution.

The project already builds on proven AI deployments at Warleigh Weir and Bournemouth Boscombe, where early models have achieved 87% accuracy. Through collaboration with UnifAI Technology, BSI and The Rivers Trust, Yorkshire Water aims to create a template for real-time water quality monitoring.

The programme will also support upcoming requirements under Section 82 of the Environment Act, which mandates continuous water quality monitoring upstream and downstream of all combined sewer overflows by 2035.

This project has been funded through Ofwat’s Water Breakthrough Challenge.

About UnifAI Technology
UnifAI Technology is a UK artificial intelligence company specialising in AI, data analytics and connected digital systems for environmental monitoring, infrastructure management and public health. In the water sector, UnifAI Technology works with water companies and partners to convert complex real-world monitoring data into actionable, auditable insights, supporting better decisions on water quality, environmental risk and operational performance.

Its water sector work includes AI-enabled water quality monitoring, virtual sensors, sensor drift detection, predictive analytics, digital dashboards and interoperable APIs. UnifAI Technology has particular experience combining sensor data, laboratory results, environmental information and operational context to support real-time and predictive understanding of river, bathing water and wider environmental conditions. The company also brings experience from regulated healthcare, including smartphone-based AI interpretation of lateral flow tests, which it is applying to new approaches for digital, connected field testing in water quality monitoring.

About The SOCOTEC Group
SOCOTEC UK and Ireland is a network of industry-leading experts who empower ambitious businesses at every stage of the asset lifecycle.

With 2,000 team members, working with over 5,000 companies, everything we do is for the benefit of our clients, who to us become partnered with our entire group.

From, building control, dispute resolution and fire engineering to advanced chemistry and research, environmental consultancy and structural monitoring, all our services come with a focus on technological innovation and sustainable delivery. Our advice is built on a foundation of substance.

About The Ofwat Innovation Fund
The Ofwat Innovation Fund aims to grow the water sector’s capacity to innovate, enabling it to better meet the evolving needs of customers, society and the environment. It is encouraging new ways of working that go beyond business-as-usual innovation practices in the water industry, in particular increasing and improving collaboration and building partnerships from within and outside the water sector. It is delivered by challenge prize experts Challenge Works in partnership with Arup and Isle Utilities. The Innovation Fund forms part of Ofwat's approach to innovation in the water sector. Ofwat with the Environment Agency and Drinking Water Inspectorate also runs StreamLine, a joint service for innovators and businesses to get informal regulatory advice.

About Challenge Works  
Challenge Works is a global leader in the design and delivery of high-impact challenge prizes that incentivise cutting-edge innovation for social good. In the last 10 years, we have designed and delivered 101 prizes, distributed more than £310M in funding and engaged with 16,000 innovators. Challenge prizes champion open innovation through competition. We specify a problem that needs solving, but not what the solution should be. We offer large cash incentives to encourage diverse innovators to apply their ingenuity to solving the problem. The most promising solutions are rewarded with seed funding and expert capacity building support, so that they can prove their impact and effectiveness. The first or best innovation to solve the problem wins. This approach levels the playing field for unknown and previously untested innovators so that the best ideas, no matter their origin, are brought to bear on the most difficult of global challenges. 

About ​Yorkshire Water
We’re Yorkshire Water. The people trusted to take care of Yorkshire’s most valuable natural resource. On the surface, we manage and look after the region’s water, coast and countryside. But our work means much more than just providing essential services to over 5 million customers in the region. We’re an integral part of Yorkshire life and millions of people who live and work here rely upon us, every single day.

Our vision is to create a thriving Yorkshire, which is right for customers and right for the environment. Over the next five years, from 2025-2030, we are investing £8.3B to improve performance and ensure we deliver for our customers and the environment. It is our largest ever environmental investment, which will provide benefits for decades to come and help Yorkshire’s economy by supporting up to 10,000 jobs. Our plan supports the changes we need to provide safe, clean, great tasting water; deliver value for money to our customers; build and operate efficient infrastructure; reduce pollution; improve river quality and reduce carbon emissions.