OV Will Triumphs in International Competition

Congratulations to OV Will Chapman (Ca 14-21 and Old Hawfordian) who has achieved international success, winning the global “Battle of the Water Futures” competition and earning an invitation to attend the prestigious International Conference on Water Distribution Systems Analysis & Computing and Control in the Water Industry (WDSA/CCWI 2026) in Paphos, Cyprus last month.

The competition challenged teams to redesign water distribution systems for an uncertain future, which is closely linked to Will’s Master’s dissertation. Solutions were judged on financial viability, affordability, resilience, and environmental impact.  Will’s team, comprised of people from all over the world, placed first with the best designed system.

At the conference, Will joined a highly international and renowned group of researchers in the field, including from the USA, China, Australia, South Korea, the UK, Israel, South Africa and more. Working alongside research fellows, experienced academics and PhD students, Will was notably one of only two undergraduates in attendance at the conference!

Will added, “It was a privilege to work alongside such a talented international team and to apply ideas from my studies to a real-world challenge. The experience has strengthened my interest in sustainable water systems and shown me the value of collaboration across disciplines and cultures.”