Civil Water Management named finalist in four TechFest 2026 awards categories
Civil Water Management has been named a finalist in all four categories it entered at the TechFest 2026 awards.
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Product Innovation of the Year
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Technology Supplier of the Year
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Best Use of Technology: Carbon Reduction in Design
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Best Use of Technology: Carbon Reduction in Construction and Management
Modular Drainage Systems: rethinking conventional drainage
CWM’s four finalist places recognise the development and deployment of its Modular Drainage System Technology.
The system uses highly permeable, fixed open-void modules manufactured from recycled tyre rubber, bonded and encapsulated with a robust polyurethane resin.
With an average 45% interconnected void structure, MDS is permeable across its exposed surfaces, allowing water to be intercepted where it occurs and conveyed in multiple directions.
Crucially, MDS is designed to overcome many of the physical and hydraulic limitations of conventional drainage, such as perforated pipes and concrete channels, improving how quickly water can be taken in and conveyed.
Modular Drainage System Technology: from development to live deployment
The award entries centre on recent advancements in the development of Modular Drainage System Technology and its deployment across live infrastructure projects, including National Cycle Network Route 6 between Castlethorpe and Wolverton.
The NCN Route 6 project undertaken for the Walk Wheel Cycle Trust, provides a strong example of how MDS is being applied in practice, addressing planning and ecological constraints, minimised excavation requirements and the need to protect adjacent Network Rail assets.
Following an initial 198-metre installation, the first stock order for scaled deployment was delivered in May 2025.
MDS was used to secure project approvals across 2.5km of the route, with more than 1km already installed. The installed section is remotely monitored and has remained flood-free through the winter of 2024 to date.
Project modelling estimated carbon savings of up to 50% compared with the conventional approach, alongside an estimated 19% cost saving with improved materials efficiency.
The carbon benefits are also supported by independent product carbon assessment undertaken through the National Composites Centre.
The wider benefits extend beyond drainage.
An independent assessment by the Rural Design Centre projected £3.16 million of social value over ten years for the full route, driven by benefits including increased active travel, improved health outcomes and reduced disruption from flooding.
Recognition of the complete CWM proposition
“To be named a finalist in all four categories we entered is a tremendous achievement for CWM, the team at our manufacturer Rosehill Group and everyone who has helped us develop, test and deploy Modular Drainage Systems.
“The breadth of the recognition is particularly important. It acknowledges the innovation in the technology itself, our work to support its adoption and deployment across projects of local and national significance, and the carbon reductions that can be achieved at both the design and construction stages.
“National Cycle Network Route 6 is a great example of what becomes possible when established drainage assumptions are challenged. This recognition strengthens our determination to further embed MDS as a recognised and specified drainage category across active travel, highways, rail and water management.”
Get in touch. Find out more about how Civil Water Management can help to unlock the engineering advantage for your next project.
To talk to our specialist drainage team call 0203 189 1468 or email in**@******************nt.com