The CENTAUR® smart system that uses AI to improve how storm water is handled, has been named a finalist in the AI Game Changer of the Year category at the prestigious Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards.
As the UK water sector faces increasing pressure to improve river health and reduce storm overflow discharges, CENTAUR®, the smart system that uses AI to improve how storm water is handled, has been named a finalist in the AI Game Changer of the Year category at the prestigious Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards.
The recognition celebrates how artificial intelligence is being used to address one of the UK’s most significant environmental challenges. By intelligently managing flows across wastewater networks in real time, CENTAUR® helps reduce the duration and volume of storm overflow discharges, improving environmental performance by unlocking additional capacity in the infrastructure.
Cura Terrae developed CENTAUR® in conjunction with several universities, water companies and technology SMEs as an EU Horizon 2020 project. Since then, the company has continued to evolve the solution, supported by ongoing research and development, with the latest iteration of the system now being installed in the UK.
CENTAUR® is disrupting the industry as it reframes how sewer overflow problems are currently solved. Rather than relying on large-scale construction projects, CENTAUR® uses AI to change the function of the wastewater network and unlocks additional capacity, reducing reliance on costly and carbon-intensive infrastructure such as storage tanks or tunnels. By continuously sensing water levels and autonomously controlling flow gates in real time, it modulates flow in relation to its target objective and can be applied to prevent sewage spills or prevent or reduce flooding. It requires minimal planning permission, costs a fraction of conventional engineering solutions, and manages itself which makes it a technology that is more cost-effective and more readily deployable relative to the industry norm. The CENTAUR® system enables utilities to deliver environmental improvements more quickly, with the system ready to deploy in as little as three months, accelerating progress towards cleaner rivers and healthier waterways.
The technology has already delivered proven results with Southern Water, helping eliminate 135 spills in 2024, reducing overall storm overflow releases by 90%, demonstrating both environmental and commercial value.
CENTAUR® can also protect environments and communities from flooding as well as mitigate storm overflow releases. For example, abroad, CENTAUR® has even protected a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Coimbra, Portugal, for Águas de Coimbra, illustrating how AI is working to support the built infrastructure and its local communities.
This recognition demonstrates the growing role that AI can play in protecting the environment. Improving water quality requires innovation as well as investment, and CENTAUR® is showing how intelligent technology can help reduce storm overflow discharges, improve river health and deliver tangible environmental benefits sooner. Being named a finalist at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards is recognition of the impact our team is making in helping transform wastewater management. We're proud that our technology is supporting the industry's transition to a more resilient, sustainable future.
The Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards celebrate the UK’s most innovative and successful organisations, recognising businesses that are driving meaningful change through leadership, technology and innovation. Winners will be announced later this year.
