

Water utilities play a vital role in safeguarding public health by delivering clean drinking water and treating wastewater to prevent pollution and maintain the integrity of freshwater systems. The traditional linear approach to the urban water cycle—where water is abstracted, treated, distributed, consumed, collected, treated again, and finally disposed of—has become unsustainable. Over the past decade, water utilities have increasingly adopted the Circular Economy (CE) principles, integrating them into their business strategies. This shift is driven by regulatory requirements and the growing recognition of the economic and environmental benefits of CE practices. However, the sector's transition towards CE is still at an early stage and is identified as a key contributor to pollution in freshwater systems. This research proposes the development of a Circularity-Extended Input-Output (CEIO) assessment tool. This tool will provide a comprehensive evaluation of the water management processes, systematically tracking the transformation of inputs (e.g., raw water, pollutants) into outputs (e.g., treated water, materials, services) and assessing environmental externalities (e.g., pollutants discharged into rivers, soil contamination from sludge applications). By leveraging the CEIO tool, water companies will be better equipped to optimise resource use, address pollution at source and restore natural ecosystems, in line with CE principles.
Over the past decade, water utilities have increasingly adopted the Circular Economy (CE) principles, integrating them into their business strategies. This shift is driven by regulatory requirements and the growing recognition of the economic and environmental benefits of CE practices, such as achieving net-zero targets, reducing pollution and fostering green growth.
However, the sector's transition towards CE is still at an early stage. To accelerate this transformation, this research proposes developing a Circularity-Extended Input-Output (CEIO) assessment tool. The CEIO tool will provide a comprehensive analysis of the water extraction, distribution, and management system components and evaluate their circularity potential by systematically tracking the transformation of inputs (e.g., raw water, pollutants) into outputs (e.g., treated water, materials, services). The tool will empower utilities to develop effective CE strategies, ensuring the sustainability of their operations and environmental protection.
A tailored training plan will be co-developed with the prospective PhD candidate based on their background and prior experience, ensuring they acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in this interdisciplinary project. The training will include:
One-to-One Instruction: Delivered by the supervisory team, covering topics such as water management systems, Circular Economy (CE) principles, systems mapping tools, Geographical Information Systems (GIS), Life Cycle Analysis (LCA), Material Flow Analyses (MFA) and programming languages. Additionally, the student will receive training on designing and facilitating workshops with industry stakeholders.
CASE Partner Training: The candidate will work with a Water Utility, benefiting from hands-on experience and guidance from industry experts to understand real-world applications of frameworks and tools used by water utilities. Working closely with their staff, the candidate will be receiving direct feedback to ensure the research remains industry-relevant.
Access to Brunel’s Graduate School training, including systematic literature reviews, academic writing skills, referencing.
This project opens diverse career pathways for the candidate. In academia, opportunities include postdoctoral research or faculty positions specializing in water management, sustainability, or Circular Economy (CE). Within the water industry, potential roles exist in water utilities, regulatory bodies (e.g., OFWAT, UKWIR), or environmental service providers, focusing on CE strategies and resource efficiency. The candidate could also pursue environmental consulting roles in water resource management, CE, life cycle analysis (LCA), and sustainability across industries. Additionally, there are prospects in governmental or NGO sectors developing CE policies, sustainable resource management frameworks, and advisory roles on environmental and regulatory policies.