The EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Water Infrastructure & Resilience II (WIRe II) builds upon the highly successful collaboration between three of the UK's centres of excellence in water research (Cranfield, Sheffield and Newcastle Universities). One of the foundations of a thriving civic community and economy is having secure, resilient and sustainable water resources and services that: (i) provide affordable and equitable access to water; (ii) deliver a safe drinking water supply; (iii) provide wastewater services that don't pollute the environment; (iv) ensure there is enough water to meet the increasing demands from multiple sectors; and (v) are net beneficial to the environment, while protecting critical infrastructure from the impacts of climate change. This is placed against a backdrop of increased levels of dissatisfaction and higher expectations from civic communities on their water services, multiple demands on water resources and adaptations required from the impacts of climate change. With the UK population expected to grow from 69 million to 79 million by 2050, water resources have never been under as much pressure. Recent assessments have shown that only 14% of English rivers have good ecological status and no river has good chemical status. Water companies have also been placed under significant public examination from recent well-publicised pollution incidents from storm overflows and restrictions in water, with expectations that the UK will need to save 4billion litres of water per day by 2050. A collaborative and interdisciplinary approach is therefore essential for securing more resilient and sustainable water systems. There is also an urgent demand for improved water management as we move into a more sustainable world - the requirement for suitably skilled specialists with the appropriate interdisciplinary skills has never been higher. In developing the case for WIRe II, we have brought together an important group of civic partners, including the water utilities (with representation from all nations of the UK, covering water and wastewater services for 90% of the UKs population), organisations from the energy sector working on net zero technologies that have significant water demand and/or wastewater streams, regulators and civic groups, consultancies who work across the water-energy nexus, and partnerships with UKCRIC and DAFNI for access to world leading facilities. The CDT will be a significant contributor to addressing a clear skills gap identified by our partners and provide a future blueprint for enhanced training in the sector. We urgently need research to understand whole water systems (catchment, treatment and distribution processes) to achieve stable, safe water delivery to customers and the return of water back to the environment for multiple beneficial purposes. Such complexity requires inter- and trans-disciplinary research and a critical mass of experts and outputs. Three interconnected research themes will be addressed in WIRe II that align with key civic priorities: Safe and sustainable water resources for all; A resource neutral water sector; and Adapting to climate change. The WIRe II training programme has been developed with our partners to ensure we develop talent with the skills, competencies, and creativeness required to meet the changing demands of the sector. Built around the principles of deep vertical and horizontal integration of cohorts, students will progress through the CDT by undertaking a common induction semester, an assessed taught programme, an inspiring transferable skills curriculum and an annual Summer Challenge, alongside opportunities for national and international placements. We have evolved the programme to deliver the transformative science needed to tackle the rapidly changing demands and challenges being faced across our water systems and to develop the future leaders in the water and allied sectors.

Globally, one in four cities is facing water stress, and the projected demand for water in 2050 is set to increase by 55%. These are significant and difficult problems to overcome, however this also provides huge opportunity for us to reconsider how our water systems are built, operated and governed. Placing an inspirational student experience at the centre of our delivery model, the Water Resilience for Infrastructure and Cities (WRIC) Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) will nurture a new generation of research leaders to provide the multi-disciplinary, disruptive thinking to enhance the resilience of new and existing water infrastructure. In this context the WRIC CDT will seek to improve the resilience of water infrastructure which conveys and treats water and wastewater as well as the impacts of water on other infrastructure systems which provide vital public services in urban environments. The need for the CDT is simple: Water infrastructure is fundamental to our society and economy in providing benefit from water as a vital resource and in managing risks from water hazards, such as wastewater, floods, droughts, and environmental pollution. Recent water infrastructure failures caused by climate change have provided strong reminders of our need to manage these assets against the forces of nature. The need for resilient water systems has never been greater and more recognised in the context of our industrial infrastructure networks and facilities for water supply, wastewater treatment and urban drainage. Similarly, safeguarding critical infrastructure in key sectors such as transport, energy and waste from the impacts of water has never been more important. Combined, resilience in these systems is vitally important for public health and safety. Industry, regulators and government all recognise the huge skills gap. Therefore there is an imperative need for highly skilled graduates who can transcend disciplines and deliver innovative solutions to contemporary water infrastructure challenges. Centred around unique and world leading water infrastructure facilities, and building on an internationally renowned research consortium (Cranfield University, The University of Sheffield and Newcastle University), this CDT will produce scientists and engineers to deliver the innovative and disruptive thinking for a resilient water infrastructure future. This will be achieved through delivery of an inspirational and relevant and end user-led training programme for researchers. The CDT will be delivered in cohorts, with deeply embedded horizontal and vertical training and integration within, and between, cohorts to provide a common learning and skills development environment. Enhanced training will be spread across the consortium, using integrated delivery, bespoke training and giving students a set of unique experiences and skills. Our partners are drawn from a range of leading sector and professional organisations and have been selected to provide targeted contributions and added value to the CDT. Together we have worked with our project partners to co-create the strategic vision for WRIC, particularly with respect to the training needs and challenges to be addressed for development of resilience engineers. Their commitment is evidenced by significant financial backing with direct (>£2.4million) and indirect (>£1.6million) monetary contributions, agreement to sit on advisory boards, access to facilities and data, and contributions on our taught programme.