Chlorine and ‘forever chemicals’ could be removed from drinking water in the future thanks to a new technique that uses cold plasma for disinfection.

The technology – which looks like a strobe-lit coffee pot – requires no added chemicals or replacement parts, has low energy usage and could help to cut the carbon impact of cleaning the UK’s water supplies. The technique also helps to remove PFAS, otherwise known as forever chemicals, before water enters the wider environment. PFAS have been associated with negative impacts on human health in the past.

Cold plasma is the electrical impulse – the jumping electrons – that spark when you ignite a gas hob. The spark is visible because it charges the air producing light and heat – this is plasma.

The team developing the technology is one of 10 selected by water industry regulator Ofwat for awards of up to £450,000. Its Water Discovery Challenge has been designed to find new solutions to some of the biggest challenges facing the water sector.