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About our project
Project Zero (formally Water Neutrality at NAV Sites) is funded through the Ofwat Innovation Fund and led by Affinity Water, in collaboration with partners from across the water, development, and technology sectors. The project seeks to demonstrate the feasibility of achieving water neutrality at scale — ensuring that total community water use remains the same as before new homes are built.
To achieve this ambition, Project Zero combines three core approaches:
- Technological innovation – exploring water reuse systems and water-efficient products.
- Behavioural change – supporting customers to use water more sustainably.
- Offsetting – reducing demand from existing customers within the local supply area.
The project is being delivered across three sites, each with a distinct focus to test solutions and create a practical industry blueprint for water-neutral development:
- Phase 1 – Technology Focus: Testing the feasibility of communal water reuse systems and exploring supporting water efficiency products.
- Phase 2 – Behaviour Change and offsetting Focus: Delivering a targeted engagement campaign to influence customer water-use behaviours in new-build homes.
- Phase 3 – Hybrid Approach: Combining reuse systems, efficient fixtures, smart metering, behaviour change and offsetting initiatives to demonstrate a holistic model for water neutrality
What is water neutrality?
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Water neutrality means that new housing developments do not increase total water demand on local supplies.
This can be achieved by:
- Reducing water use through water-efficient fittings, appliances and water saving behaviours.
- Reusing water by utilising water reuse technologies such as rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling.
- Offsetting extra demand such as retrofitting existing buildings with water efficient devices or water reuse systems in local non-domestic settings.
Case Study: Behavioural Change and Efficiency Fittings in Bidwell West
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At Bidwell West in Houghton Regis, we partnered with IWNL, a licensed New Appointment and Variation (NAV) company, to trial water neutrality at 908 new homes by reducing water use through behaviour change and offsetting consumption from non-household properties.
Results:
- 42% of households took a water-saving pledge.
- Participants saved around 32.9 litres per day.
- Fixing a leaking toilet at a school had a savings of around 7,000 litres per day.
- The site achieved water positivity, returning 12,000 litres more water daily than it used.
Environmental incentives
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All new homes pay a £127 Environmental Component charge. Developers installing water-efficient fittings may qualify for Incentive credits — check your eligibility here.
Steering committee
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An Independent Steering Committee of industry experts and academics oversees Project Zero.
Their role:
- Ensure the project stays credible and deliverable.
- Review progress and tackle emerging challenges.
- Share best practice across the UK water industry.
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