Dr Paul Hutchings

Profile

I am an Associate Professor in Water, Sanitation and Health and currently serve as Associate Director of water@leeds, one of the world’s largest interdisciplinary water research groups. My work is driven by a commitment to improving the sustainability and resilience of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) systems for underserved populations globally.

As Programme Director for the Water, Sanitation and Health Engineering MSc—an internationally leading and vibrant programme at Leeds—I have the privilege of working with talented students from around the world. In recent years, I have been fortunate to supervise a fantastic cohort of PhD students, many of whom are funded by our EPSRC WaterWISER doctoral programme. I learn a great deal from the students I work with and greatly value their insights, creativity, and commitment to making a positive difference in the world.

My own educational background is interdisciplinary, with degrees in Geography and Development Studies from the University of Liverpool. I completed my PhD at Cranfield University, where I worked as a research assistant on the Australian Aid (DFAT) funded Community Water Plus project, investigating the determinants of success within community-managed rural water supply projects across India.

I took up an academic post at Cranfield University in 2016, teaching and researching a wide range of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) issues. With support from ESRC-DFID funding, I led research to develop the Water-related Emotional Distress (WRED) methodology, designed to track water security among pastoralist groups in Ethiopia.

I joined the University of Leeds in 2020 and continue to work on a diverse portfolio of projects spanning water, sanitation, infrastructure and health. I am currently involved in major research consortia and initiatives funded by the FCDO, NIHR, and UKRI, among others. I regularly collaborate with international organisations and contribute to the development of sectoral guidance and policy.

I am always keen to connect with researchers, students, practitioners, and policymakers interested in strengthening water, sanitation and health systems around the world.

Responsibilities

• Programme Leader for the Water, Sanitation and Health Engineering MSc
• WaterWISER CDT Management Board
• Associate Director water@leeds

Research interests

My research centres on strengthening water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) systems, with a particular focus on the institutional, policy, and social dynamics that underpin sustainable, inclusive service delivery. I am especially interested in how WASH systems adapt and evolve in response to social, environmental, and technological change, and how research can inform policy and practice for more resilient and equitable outcomes.

A major strand of my work investigates how WASH systems can be strengthened to deliver lasting impact—especially in contexts facing rapid rural-urban transitions, climate pressures, or persistent social inequalities. I explore the interplay between infrastructure, environmental factors, technology, and the institutional arrangements that govern the management, financing, and use of WASH services. My research builds on interdisciplinary foundations, integrating perspectives from engineering, environmental science, development studies, and public health to better understand and influence system-level change.

I am also deeply engaged in applied research and evaluation, working with partners to design, implement, and assess interventions that improve WASH and environmental health. My work ranges from developing new tools and frameworks for monitoring system change and service quality, to studying the lived experience of water insecurity and the health impacts of inadequate sanitation. This includes collaborative research to measure links between WASH access, mental health, and well-being, as well as evaluating the effectiveness of programmes in humanitarian, urban, and rural settings.

Much of my current research is embedded in major multi-country initiatives—such as the FCDO WASH Systems for Health programme—where I lead efforts to generate practical evidence on system change, climate resilience, and the transition to safely managed services. I am committed to supporting learning, adaptation, and scaling of effective approaches within the sector, and work closely with governments, international agencies, and local partners to inform policy and practice.

Underlying all my work is a commitment to interdisciplinary scholarship and to producing research that is both rigorous and relevant—helping to build the foundations for healthier, fairer, and more resilient societies.

• RESHAPE: RESilience in HeAlth Post-Extreme weather events
• WASH Systems for Health (2023-2028)

Professional memberships

• International Water Association

Research groups and institutes

• Water, Public Health and Environmental Engineering

Current postgraduate researchers

• Hannah Jayne Robinson
• Georgia Hales
• Ruth Sylvester
• Mahbub Alam