Sacyr Water has received the 2026 Innovating for Sustainable Water and Environmental Outcomes Award, recognising its commitment to developing innovative solutions that deliver measurable environmental and operational benefits across the water sector.
The award was presented for the project “From Single-Use to Sustainable: Extending Cartridge Filter Life Through In-Situ Cleaning”, an initiative implemented at the Southern Seawater Desalination Plant (SSDP) that transforms cartridge filters from disposable consumables into reusable assets through a novel cleaning process.
Through this approach, the average lifespan of cartridge filters increased from 27 days to 167 days, significantly reducing waste generation, minimising manual handling requirements and improving maintenance efficiency.
The project demonstrates how circular economy principles can be successfully integrated into desalination and water treatment operations, helping optimise resource use while delivering more sustainable outcomes.
The recognition was announced at the 2026 Western Australian Water Awards, which celebrate excellence and innovation across the water sector in Western Australia. The awards recognise outstanding achievements in areas including sustainability, research, leadership, community engagement and environmental performance.
For Sacyr Water, this achievement reinforces the company's commitment to innovation, operational excellence and sustainable water management. It also highlights the value of developing practical solutions capable of generating environmental, operational and social benefits throughout the water cycle.
As the industry continues to face increasing challenges related to resource efficiency and sustainability, initiatives such as this showcase how innovation can drive meaningful improvements while supporting the transition towards more circular and resilient water infrastructure.