New Proposed Projects Targeted at ... - Water Portfolio Winter... · Business Planning Drinking water plans - Business as usual CP382 16 ... • Introduce a proactive approach to

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New Proposed Projects Targeted atCurrent Issues and Problems

Topic Title Ref. Page Area

Sewerage New sewage rising mains inspection methods CP371 4

Sewerage Getting the most from CCTV inspections CP372 5

Sewerage Street ironwork - Cost effective management CP373 6

Wastewater Better information for trade effluent control CP374 7

Odour Mgt. Less odour by design CP375 8

Metering Justifying increased meter penetration CP376 9

Risk Mgt. Implementing UV disinfection for water CP377 10

Instrumentation Instrument user group - Sharing knowledge & experience CP378 11

Risk Mgt. Alarm systems improvement group CP321a 12

Customer Services Improving customer services CP379 13

Business Planning Risk and uncertainty in cost benefit analysis CP380 14

Business Planning Creating value from data CP381 15

Business Planning Drinking water plans - Business as usual CP382 16

Climate Change Rainfall design sets for climate change CP383 17

2009

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On-Going Collaborative ProjectsYou Can Buy Into 2009

Topic Title Ref. Page Area

Drinking Water New microbiological techniques CP353 18

Drinking Water Managing microbial risk for regulatory compliance CP332 18

Drinking Water Validating the cause of coliform in drinking water CP331 19

Water Treatment Pesticide removal tests CP354a 19

Water Treatment Stannous chloride for plumbosolvency control CP369 20

Water Treatment Optimisation of filter backwashing CP334 20

Monitoring An integrated approach to contamination risk CP358 21

Supply Demand Mgt.Water efficiency devices - Savings assessment CP359 21

Metering Commercial meter under-registration* CP360 22

Pump Mgt. Pumps - Optimisation & replacement CP348a 22

Energy Efficiency Comparing energy efficiency: Where are we good?* CP310 23

Spatial Info. Geographical information user group CP024 23

Benchmarking Web-based benchmarking tool CP346 24

Operating Costs Development of TR61 V10.0 software CP347 24

Underground Assets Geocellular underground SUD storage systems CP329 25

Underground Assets Meeting future national requirements CP355 25

Odour Mgt. Odour management plans CP361 26

Carbon Footprint Carbon accounting for pipeline installation CP364 26

Sewerage Impact of using sewers for food waste disposal CP342 27

Sewerage Water industry specifications for small pumping stations CP370 27

Sewerage Effect of reduced water on solids in small pipes CP367 28

Sewerage Understanding the impact of interceptors CP368 28

* These projects, will meet needs identified by The Research Foresight Partnership Road Maps

New ProjectsPortfolioCollaborativeResearch

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Project Appreciation and Objectives

Benefits to Clients

Work Programme

Project Output

Related Work

Rising mains failures are typically responsible for about a third of all pollution incidents relating to pumping stations; there were over 800 such failures in 2006/7. Previous WRc work identified that often there was evidence of a defect in the rising main prior to its failure and so an inspection method that could locate such defects would significantly reduce the number of failures.

Several of the standard methods for water main and sewer inspection have been tried without very ®much success. Trials have, however, identified that an adaptation of the Sahara leak detection

technique can successfully deliver a probe up to 800m from the point of entry in a sewer rising main.

A new approach is needed, which both recognises the specific characteristics of rising mains, and builds on the experience gained with other methods. This project will review a range of techniques that have the capacity to reliably and cost-effectively identify known defect types in sewer rising mains that could lead to failure.

• Avoid major burst events and the associated expensive repercussions.• Reduce risk of prosecution both by reducing pollution incidents from emergency overflow

discharges and demonstrating to the regulator that procedures are in place to manage the risk.• Reduce disruption and cost of repair from rising mains failures by a proactive approach. • Ability to plan full or partial mains replacement based on information on the condition of the

main either in advance of failure or following an initial failure.

Two phases are proposed as follows:

1. Phase 1 - review potential techniques and bench scale trials, where necessary, to identify their ability to identify the expected defect types.

2. Phase 2 - trial the best techniques in a series of pilot scale trials on short lengths of pipe at WRc.

Following completion of Phase 1 the Liaison Group would review the results to ensure that work on Phase 2 would commence only if there was a reasonable likelihood of success. Assuming that the project successfully identifies one or more suitable techniques then WRc would seek further funding to perform further field trials to implement and refine the successful techniques.

• Interim report on the feasibility of different techniques.• Report on pilot scale testing.• An implementation road map.

• Risk calculation tool for rising mains, CP053, 2001-2002• Manual for the design, installation, operation and maintenance of sewer rising mains CP284,

2005-2006.• WRc's Sahara® Leak Location system which pinpoints leaks in large diameter pipes, including

pressurised sewer mains..

CP371New Sewage Rising MainsInspection Methods

New Projects PortfolioCollaborativeResearch

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CP372Getting the Most fromCCTV Inspections


Benefits to Clients

Work Programme

Project Output

Related Work

Good quality CCTV images are key to understanding the rate of deterioration and setting investment levels for gravity sewers. Although CCTV sewer inspection has been in use for over 30 years, a number of new or emerging technological improvements have recently evolved which could deliver significant improvements to recorded and stored image quality. However a number of issues have arisen which need to be resolved to allow end users to correctly specify and control the quality of the new technology and also assess the potential benefits against the costs of specifying the improved technology.

This project will review the capabilities of existing CCTV equipment and the current specifications for underground sewerage surveys to ensure that end users can take full advantage of new and emerging technologies where benefits outweigh the costs.

• Confidence that the most appropriate technology is being used to help determine sewer investment needs.

• Understand and justify CCTV costs and benefits to help avoid costly procurement errors.• Improve the sewer survey specifications and ensure CCTV inspections are carried out to

maximum effect but with minimal cost.• Improve the understanding between equipment manufacturers and end users to ensure well-

defined CCTV product development programmes.

1. Comprehensive review of existing and emerging CCTV equipment and related technology.2. Assess end user requirements, focussing on picture quality parameters, to establish the

necessary capabilities for different types of inspection and varying sizes and types of sewer.3. Develop model specification clauses for both the equipment and video format, together with

quality control procedures and guidance for end users on the most appropriate specifications for different applications.

• A comprehensive guidance document to select the most appropriate equipment, test methods and video file formats for CCTV sewer inspection work on drains and sewers of different sizes and materials.

• A set of model specification clauses for a number of different options of equipment specification, quality control testing and video file formats. It is proposed that these clauses should be included as options in a future edition of the Model Contract Document for Sewer Condition Inspection. In the meanwhile they could be included as additional clauses.

• The Manual of Sewer Condition Classification and Model Contract Document for Sewer Condition Inspection, 2004.

• Sewerage Risk Management, CP309, 2008 – this update to the Sewerage Rehabilitation Manual includes structural investigation programmes of sewerage assets and procedures for inspection programmes, including requirements for CCTV inspections.

• Project ISAAC, EC, 2001-2003. This project developed techniques for better sewer inspections by using image processing techniques that allowed operators to discriminate between essential and non-essential repairs.


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Benefits to Clients

Work Programme

Project Output

Related Work

Defective covers in highways can cause a range of problems ranging from noise nuisance to serious road traffic accidents. It is estimated that the water industry spends in excess of £30 million each year on the repair and maintenance of street ironwork which can cause much traffic disruption as inevitably the covers most in need are located in the heaviest traffic flows.

There are over 6 million manholes and inspection chambers on sewer systems in the UK, all with varying age and replacement requirement, with a total replacement cost estimated at over £3 billion.

Currently, ironwork repair and replacement is typically undertaken on an as needed basis. However, a planned maintenance strategy would help reduce failures and allow alternative engineering solutions to be evaluated. This project will review a number of parameters involved with the types of failure and rate of deterioration in order to advise on the inspection methods and cost effective solutions to this growing problem.

A risk based approach to the management of manhole covers and other street ironwork will allow sewerage undertakers to:

• Introduce a proactive approach to managing covers where the risks to health and safety are highest and so reduce company liability and also, potentially, opex expenditure.

• Operate a cost effective data collection procedure to understand the likely future changes in manhole maintenance needs and so identify maintenance budget requirements.

• Produce a robust case to the economic regulator for regular funding to be dedicated to the strategically planned proactive and reactive replacement.

1. Extensive literature review to identify known mechanisms and rates of failure of street ironwork and best management practices.

2. Develop a methodology for sample inspection of manhole covers.3. Perform trials of the proposed methodology. 4. Develop methods to assess risks associated with manhole covers.5. Develop and assess best practice pro-active management approaches.6. Produce final report describing the recommended approach and how it might be applied in

practice.

• A risk based methodology for management and investment planning of street ironwork in line with the UKWIR CMPCF and the SRM.

• Guidance of the specification of street ironwork to take account of the size and location of the cover.

• Sewerage Risk Management, CP309, 2008 - this update to the Sewerage Rehabilitation Manual has created a fully risk based approach to assessing both the current and future probability of failure and the consequences of each possible failure mode, including, for example, risks associated with structural failure of manhole covers.

CP373Street Ironwork -Cost Effective Management


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CP374Better Information forTrade Effluent Control


Benefits to Clients

Work Programme

Project Output

Related Work

Trade effluent control is based on a “risk-based approach” and relies on a good knowledge of the trade from which the wastewater arises; a knowledge of the site facilities; and experience of the history of site operations, management and competence. Much of this knowledge and experience resides with the trade effluent officers themselves, supported by monitoring records, guidance documents and procedural controls. Maintaining such an experience base is a continuing challenge for the water companies.

This project will assist companies in trade effluent control by providing improved central information which is easily accessible, thereby allowing improved efficiency for practitioners. It will also assess the implications of the REACH regulations and identify any associated opportunities to improve trade effluent control procedures.

• Rapid access to better information on trade wastes and on chemical substances, which will improve efficiency and provide flexibility to deal with regulatory changes.

• Identify emerging issues relating to trade effluent consenting and possible ways of dealing with them.

1. Review the current sources of information used by practitioners and identify how these could be improved. Specifically this would consider the scope of existing information resources (such as the UKWIR/WRc Toxicity Datasheets and other sources). Examine the information gathered through the implementation of REACH and how this could be exploited to improve trade effluent control procedures.

2. Review of the impact of catchment-based consent setting on trade effluent control policy and practice and links between trade effluent control and the Environment Agency's Pollutant Reduction Programmes (PRPs). This work would be undertaken in conjunction with the Agency to provide a mutual understanding of requirements.

3. Evaluate the need for an improved centralised information database particularly tailored to the requirements of trade effluent activities.

4. Consider the need for improved sampling, testing and characterisation methods required to deal with assessment of the impact of trade effluents on new and emerging wastewater treatment processes such as biological nutrient removal.

• Workshop for Trade Effluent Practitioners on information sources • Report covering a review of data sources, emerging substance consenting issues, waste testing

and characterisation requirements to support consenting. • Updating and extending Toxicity Datasheets for specific substances identified by project

participants.

• WRc/UKWIR Toxicity Advisory Service - which provides a 24/7 wastewater and trade effluent enquiry service. 1988 - present.

• Assessment of the environmental impacts of a wide range of industrial chemicals and mixed trade wastes, various clients, 1990-present.

• Review of wastewater treatment requirements, site operations and cooling water circuit management for an alumina refinery to determine future wastewater treatment requirements to meet environmental objectives, Suralco, 2008


Benefits to Clients

Work Programme

Project Output

Related Work

Retrofitting odour control systems at wastewater treatment works can be exorbitantly expensive, yet the enormous potential to design out these problems at source and utilise the extensive suite of control measures available, has yet to be fully realised.

This project will systematically quantify the opportunities for reducing odour emissions via a range of design and operating measures and develop a clear methodology for quantifying the combined effect of such measures at individual works, i.e. reduce total works emissions in odour units. It will take account of the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmosphere Regulations (DSEAR) and the need to use corrosion resistant materials, where appropriate.

• Reduce the overall cost of maintaining an acceptable odour emission from new works.• Identify scope for reducing emissions by lower-cost design and operational means and so avoid

unnecessary expensive end-of-pipe solutions.

1. Examine generic techniques for reducing levels of odour emission.2. Undertake a process by process review of specific measures available for reducing emissions.3. Investigate implications for DSEAR regulations.4. Survey two sites to identify and quantify the options for reducing odour emissions.5. Produce curves relating costs to the levels of odour reduced or remaining, allowing the

identification of optimum strategies.

• Comprehensive guidelines for reducing the level of odour emissions by design, retrofitting and operation.

• Detailed procedure for quantifying the monetary benefits of such measures and identifying optimal strategies.

• Software developed during the study.

• Enclosed Sewage Treatment Processes, CP330, 2007.• Odour Control, Primary Sedimentation Tanks, CP301, 2005.• Best Practicable Means (BPM) – A Guidebook for Odour Control, UKWIR, 2004.• Study for the Preparation of a Best Available Techniques Reference (BREF), 2004.• Reducing Odours from Sludge, CP149, 2004.• Consultancy on odour at a large number of sites for a number of water utilities, 1995 to date.


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CP375Less Odourby Design


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CP376Justifying IncreasedMeter Penetration


Benefits to Clients

Work Programme

Project Output

Related Work

The proportion of household water meters is set to grow rapidly over the next few years, with around half of companies targeting full meter penetration in their Strategic Direction Statements. However, the regulators are insisting that expansions in metering are justified through cost benefit analysis (CBA). Recent work for the Intelligent Metering Initiative, published by UKWIR, has established a methodology for doing this.

However, this and other work has highlighted areas where the data required to assess the CBA is weak or has a surprisingly wide range, often too wide to be useful, which could both be strengthened and improved by aggregation of many data. This is particularly the case in new technologies, for example, automatic meter reading (AMR) and alternative policies, e.g. change of occupancy metering. With many companies now using AMR's, some sharing of experience and data would help the industry build a robust data set upon which to base investment decisions in metering and identify the real costs that need to be taken into account.

This project would build on the previous, highly successful, meter benchmarking exercises (published 2004 and 2006), by filling information gaps in key areas, looking for case study data from overseas as well as the UK and providing further analysis of the current data and trends.

• Will provide datasets for robust cost benefit analysis of metering policies.• Allows companies to negotiate with suppliers from a more informed position.• The dataset comparisons will help a utility identify where it needs to improve its metering as it

compares itself with the other UK utilities.

1. Agree with participants areas for inclusion.2. Produce data acquisition specification framework for data collection.3. Collect data from participants initially electronically and then by site visit to ensure a large and

accurate dataset.4. Obtain data and experience from suppliers.5. Identify good practice and case studies from outside the UK, for example Europe and the US,

and give an independent assessment of their applicability to the UK.

• Report containing all data, presented such that it is not attributable to any individual participant,analysis and conclusions showing the true costs of metering.

• Dissemination workshop for project participants.

• Previous meter benchmarking exercises, 2004 and 2006.• IMI CBA Metering Model (Intelligent Metering Initiative), 2008.• Costs and Benefits of Moving to Full Metering, Environment Agency, 2008.• Cost-Benefit Analysis of Metering Policies,1997, CP222a.


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CP377Implementing UV Disinfectionfor Water


Benefits to Clients

Work Programme

Project Output

Related Work

Recent changes to the drinking water regulations have led to UK water companies installing UV disinfection for Cryptosporidium inactivation and, over the next few years, many more plants will be installed for general disinfection or specifically for Cryptosporidium. DWI is producing guidance on the use of UV for Cryptosporidium inactivation, and a key requirement will be the need for dose validation. This project will deliver independent practical advice on how best to comply with DWI guidance in relation to specific UV technology for defined situations.

Leading expertise on UV technology will be provided by Dr Andreas Kolch of Hytecon GmbH. Dr Kolch has over 15 years UV disinfection experience and, as past President of the International UV Association, will bring considerable worldwide UV industry contacts.

• Compliance with DWI requirements, including dose validation.• Cost-effective process selection, design and operation of UV equipment from a better

understanding of the UV market and technology and improved liaison with suppliers.

1. Evaluate the DWI guidance to understand and clarify their requirements; particularly for dosevalidation and control.

2. Liaise with UV equipment suppliers worldwide to identify and characterise technologies available, including dose validation procedures.

3. Review UV implementation experience in mainland Europe and the USA to identify best practice and optimum process solutions.

• Practical guidance for equipment selection, UV implementation, and dose validation, to meet UKconditions and DWI requirements.

• Dissemination workshop to ensure effective implementation of the project findings.

In addition to extensive expertise in water treatment and disinfection, WRc carried out a recent review for UKWIR of generic UV technology and the regulations for UV implementation in other countries. This project will build on that study by understanding DWI requirements and the implications for UV equipment from specific suppliers.


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CP378Instrument User Group -Sharing Knowledge and Experience


Benefits to Clients

Work Programme

Project Output

Related Work

Advances in instrumentation and improvements to existing approaches potentially offer the water industry exciting new opportunities to further optimise processes and reduce cost and risk. However, to do this effectively requires an understanding of overall instrument performance, it's limitations and costs and benefits. With a plethora of different equipment options available and often only manufacturers sales material available for guidance, purchasers may be at risk of not selecting the best solution for their needs.

Although forums such as SWIG (Sensors for Water Interest Group) exist there is no routine means of sharing information and experiences between water companies. This project will provide the framework to bring water company users together to exchange information and develop common interests, through an Instrument User Group. Covering all forms of water industry instrumentation, including analytical and physical measurement as well flow measurement in potable water and wastewaters, the forum will:

• Share information on instrument use, practical problems and solutions.• Facilitate sharing of evaluation data.• Identify common needs and collaborative testing.• Identify new products.• Highlight new applications requiring new solutions.

• Improve decision making - based on awareness of new technologies and best available advice from leading UK water industry experts and wider industry experiences and practices.

• Identify opportunities to reduce instrument evaluation costs through shared experiences and collaborative assessment.

• A combined voice to instrument suppliers, manufactures and innovators to develop solutions to new and existing problems.

The work programme would be agreed with the User Group, but would:

1. Incorporate twice yearly meetings for each of the following areas: • potable water instrumentation• wastewater instrumentation• flow measurement.

2. Develop a password protected website – to provide a discussion forum, suggest meeting topic ideas, post minutes and provide news on latest instrument developments.

3. Identify instrumentation research needs.

• Biannual workshops for three instrumentation groups.• Detailed Meeting minutes.• Dedicated website.

• Analytical Test Kits for Water Treatment Monitoring and Control, CP333, 2008.• Using Dissolved Oxygen for Real Time Monitoring of water quality, CP281, 2006.• Oil in Water Instrumentation for Intake Protection, CP304, 2006.• Meeting MCERTS with Closed Pipe Flowmeters, CP259, 2006.• Geographical Information User Group, CP204, Ongoing.


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CP321aAlarm SystemsImprovement Group


Benefits to Clients

Work Programme

Project Output

Related Work

Alarm management is a critical business function in mitigating risk whilst meeting increasing obligations to health and safety, the environment, customers and business efficiency.

As water companies continue to reduce site manning levels and move to more centralised management of operations, the need for effective and reliable alarm system performance has never been greater. Experience from other process industries has clearly shown that better alarm handling can significantly improve safety, quality control, fault diagnosis and plant management, and the potential to deliver similar benefits to the water industry is considerable.

Having reviewed current water industry practice against EEMUA 191 (widely recognised as the leading benchmark of best practice in industrial alarm systems) the recently completed Portfolio project CP321 Improving Alarm Systems in Water Treatment concluded that the water industry would benefit from a more coherent and rigorous framework for alarm system design and management. The CP321 participants agreed that the proposed Alarm Systems Improvement Group would be a cost-effective way forward to achieve this.

Laurie Reynolds Associates (LRA) will continue to provide specialist expertise on alarm systems from other industry sectors.

• Better alarm systems that are more usable and result in safer and more cost effective operationthrough improved design, operation, maintenance and management.

• Demonstrate to regulators and auditors that sound principles and good practice have been applied to the design and management of alarm and other safety-related systems.

• Enhance reputation as innovators in building and defining best industry practice and providing an impetus to manufacturers to develop better water industry alarm systems.

The work programme will be determined by the User Group, but initially will:

1. Provide a forum for sharing engineering and operational experiences and expertise, and lessons learned from alarm management initiatives and practice.

2. Contribute to the current review and revision of EEMUA 191 to make it more applicable to the water industry.

3. Agree a common methodology to measure and assess alarm system performance and aid development of metrics-focused continuous improvement programmes.

• Quarterly workshops and ongoing liaison.• Water industry interpretation of EEMUA 191.• Publicity to raise awareness and promote standards.

• Improving Alarm Systems in Water Treatment, CP321, 2008.• Several projects on SCADA and telemetry, UK and overseas clients 2003-present .• Investigating water treatment monitoring and control strategy, major utility, 2004.• Comparing monitoring control and automation methods with other UK water treatment practice,

major utility, 2004.• Geographical Information User Group, CP204, Ongoing.• In-depth alarms and intelligent alarms in monitoring small sewage works studies, 2001-2004.

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CP379ImprovingCustomer Services


Benefits to Clients

Work Programme

Project Output

Related Work

All companies want to improve customer service and enhance their customer services regulatory indicators. Significant improvements in this area could be achieved by better exploiting the link between the customer and the assets that provide the service.

Water companies' corporate data architectures have been developed from an asset management perspective to determine asset risk and consequence of failure to support investment. These asset based systems hold a wealth of data that could be used to provide information to more effectively support the customer services process.

This project will help to fully realise this potential by examining how the asset and customer services information systems should be co-ordinated to maximise the benefit to the company and its customers.

• Increase efficiency through improved information flows to support the customer services process.• Identify existing and possible new services to improve revenue streams.• Identify new and more efficient ways to structure and analyse billing profiles.• Improve customer service perception.• Improve regulatory rating by demonstrating that customer service is being effectively tackled.

1. Identify all possible uses of asset data that could benefit the customer, customer services operatives and the managers of customer services process. A key aim will be to determine where data already being assimilated can bring immediate benefit.

2. Develop practical guidance on how to effectively integrate Customer Services and Corporate Asset based information.

3. Perform pilot study to demonstrate how asset data can support the customer services process.

• Potential uses of asset data categorised by business area, cost and complexity.• Detailed documentation of the more promising uses of asset data.• Results from a proven piloted use of asset data.• A road map for integrating asset and customer services systems.• Project seminar to promote the findings and outline a way forward.

• Electronic Delivery of Network Performance Information, Water Utility, 2008-present.• Development of Strategic Road Maps, UKWIR and the Foresight Programme, 2008.• Meeting the Information System Challenges of the Traffic Management Act, CP251, 2005-2006.• Underground Asset Information - Meeting National Requirements CP355, 2008-present.


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CP380Risk and Uncertainty inCost Benefit Analysis


Benefits to Clients

Work Programme

Project Output

Related Work

The application of Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) within the water industry has received increased attention in recent years. Ofwat now expects each water company to use CBA as a key tool for planning and making decisions in all areas of business and to inform the construction of their business plans.

This project will review current approaches adopted by water utilities in order to help develop a more robust CBA output. The review will focus on methods and practices for reducing, quantifying and dealing with risk and uncertainty in CBA. Best practice guidance on risk and uncertainty will be provided for a number of given scenarios or situations and a generic overview given on the methodologies that can be utilised to help quantify risk and uncertainty.

• Improve investment decisions and more confidence in CBA outputs.• Avoid costly investment mistakes, through an improved understanding of how to incorporate risk

and uncertainty into investment decision making.• Improve justification of investment decisions to regulators.• Enhance stakeholder relationships through more transparent business planning decisions.

1. Review current CBA approaches adopted by water companies.2. Provide best practice guidance for a number of given situations or scenarios on risk and

uncertainty in CBA. Guidance will also be given on a number of additional situations or scenarios agreed to be reviewed at the start-up liaison group meeting.

3. Provide a generic overview of the tools and methodologies that can be utilised to help quantify risk and uncertainty.

4. Produce a collection of generic spreadsheet tools to demonstrate the methodologies that can be utilised.

• A report detailing the work carried out, the guidance on dealing with risk and uncertainty in CBA and recommendations for future application.

• Generic spreadsheet based tools that demonstrate the methodologies that can be utilised to quantify and/or analyse risk and uncertainty in CBA.

• A workshop to disseminate results and discuss implications of the findings.

• Acceptability of Drinking Water - Development of a Cost Benefit Analysis Model, Collaborationwith MVA consultancy, UKWIR, 2007-2008.

• Framework for Operational Cost Benefit Analysis In Water Supply, Techneau, 2006-2008.• Understanding risk, cost and investment decisions across different asset groups, CP272, 2006-

2007.• Numerous projects involving the development of CBA frameworks including workshops and peer

review, various water companies, 2007-2008.

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CP381Creating Valuefrom Data


Benefits to Clients

Work Programme

Project Output

Related Work

The right information is the key element to effectively planning asset expenditure and then successfully monitoring the performance resulting from that investment.

All water companies have established corporate information systems to support their business requirements. There is move towards Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solutions (such as SAP and MAXIMO) whereby all of a water company's business information is coordinated into a single system environment. However, these solutions in themselves do not solve the problem of providing suitable business planning data.

This project will help improve asset inventories by:

• Collecting the right data.• Improving the quality of information being collected.• Finding more effective ways of collecting data.• Identifying how information might be derived where data is difficult or expensive to collect.

In this way more effective data streams will be available to support regulatory reporting.

• Reduce costs in generating PR14 submissions by having the appropriate information available when required.

• Maximise return on investment made in ERP systems.• Save costs through the utilisation of derived information and the identification of information

collation that is not required.• Improve Business Planning decisions through better information and supporting systems.• Enhance understanding of data quality problems and access to proven techniques for improving

data quality.• Improve regulatory rating by demonstrating that information provision is being effectively tackled.

1. A comprehensive information gathering exercise that will identify all business planning data quality issues and investigate alternative data sources to fill gaps.

2. Categorise business planning data quality issues and define possible solutions.3. Identify data gaps that could be satisfied by alternative data sources.4. Develop a best practice guide for improving data quality and the utilisation of corporate systems.5. Pilot studies to prove selected solutions.

• A comprehensive report identifying company's data gaps and data quality issues.• A best practice guide for addressing data quality issues and addressing data gaps with

alternative data sources.• Pilot study reports proving data quality improvement and the use of alternative data sources.

• Business Planning projects for PR09 - various clients, 2007 to date.• Geographical Information User Group (GIUG) CP024, 2000 to date.• Real-time data for Asset Management, CP295, 2006 - 2007.• WISE (Water Information System for Europe), 2003 to date.• Utilising DOMS for PR09, CP322, 2007 - 2008.


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CP382Drinking Water Safety Plans -Business as Usual


Benefits to Clients

Work Programme

Project Output

Related Work

Required by DWI since 1st October 08, Drinking Water Safety Plans (DWSPs) assess drinking water risks from source to tap; identifying, with numerical values, the likelihood and consequences of identified threats. Remedial measures to address unacceptable risks then feed into the normal business planning process.

The majority of UK water companies now have considerable experience of applying risk based management approaches to the distribution network through Distribution and Operations Management Systems (DOMS) and to water treatment works. However, many have much less developed methodologies for quantifying risks to surface water and groundwater catchments.

Although there is no prescribed timetable, DWSPs need to be regularly reviewed and updated, particularly in light of any significant change to risk. Rather than repeating intensive and expensive desk-studies, a business-as-usual approach should be adopted when identifying new risks or updating DWSPs.

This project will help companies:

• Use comparative analysis to perform robust risk assessments for surface water and groundwater catchments.

• Develop a robust risk assessment framework to maintain Drinking Water Safety Plans (DWSPs) using business-as-usual processes.

• Improved regulatory performance by demonstrating robust methodology, increasing the likelihood of DWI providing Preliminary Letters of Support for schemes that address the identified issues.

• Cost savings through the implementation of business-as-usual processes to maintain DWSPs, rather than intensive desk-top exercises.

• Cost savings through the identification of the most appropriate catchment analysis from a readily available and relevant information resource.

1. Start-up meeting; agreeing project boundaries.2. Collate data / techniques; producing information archive on appropriate techniques for catchment

analysis and the key datasets.3. Generate idealised test catchments; producing anonymised test areas to demonstrate

appropriate techniques for catchment analysis.4. Comparison analysis; evaluating water company submissions against idealised catchments to

show variation in expected risk output.5. Produce high level business process and data requirement; illustrating how DWSP production

can be implemented using business–as-usual processes.

• Resource archive – providing data and techniques for catchment analysis.• Individualised reports for each participant, based on company methodology compared to

idealised catchment data and analysis. • High level business process and data requirement for business-as-usual maintenance of DWSPs.

• Catchment Based Risk Assessment for Wastewater Treatment Works Impacts, SNIFFER, 2008.• Highways Runoff Risk Assessment Tool, Highways Agency and Environment Agency, 2008.• Managing microbial risk of regulatory compliance, CP322, 2008 –ongoing.


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CP<><>CP383Rainfall Design Setsfor Climate Change


Benefits to Clients

Work Programme

Project Output

Related Work

Design sets of rainfall events (and associated soil moisture deficits), based on historical data, are regularly used in models to test the performance of sewer and water resource systems in terms of environmental standards and supply reliability. UKCIP08 scenarios, due to be published in Spring 2009, will provide climate change predictions but these will not be directly comparable to the historical design sets that water companies regularly use. By making appropriate climate adjustments to historical design sets, performance changes due to climate change alone could be assessed reliably. This project will develop a robust procedure for this purpose.

• Utilise valuable historical data series to better understand the incremental effect of climate change alone on asset performance and environmental impacts.

• Better informed business planning and investment decisions, based on best available climate change and rainfall predictions.

1. Identify a range of statistical measures to describe rainfall events and evaporation series and, for different UKCIP08 scenarios, quantify for selected sites. Changes in these measures over time will be expressed as factors.

2. Develop a procedure to calculate these factors automatically from UKCIP08 data for a particular site and for a particular time change.

3. Produce an optimisation procedure that modifies the historical datasets to give 'future' datasets. The procedure will allow 'future' datasets to relate to the historical datasets by these climate change factors, while also retaining as much of the historical structure as possible.

4. Apply the procedure to at least one historical dataset per contributor. These datasets will either be in the form of multi-year continuous hourly data or sets of events specifically created from historical data (e.g. 'Typical Year').

• A detailed report describing the development and testing of the procedure. • A prototype tool to automate the procedure.• Sample rainfall/evaporation prediction for each participant, based on one dataset.

• STORMPAC software for the generation and manipulation of rainfall, various water utility companies and consultants.

• Numerous projects supplying single site or spatial rainfall design sets, various regulatory and water utility clients (Environment Agency, Northern Ireland Environment Agency, Thames Water, Scottish Water, Severn Trent Water, MWH UK Ltd, Biwater Treatment Ltd), 2006-present.

On-Going ProjectsPortfolioCollaborativeResearch

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CP353New Microbiological Techniques - Assessingthe Benefits for Safeguarding Water Quality

CP332Managing Microbial Riskfor Regulatory Compliance


Benefits to Clients

Considerable advances in microbial testing, driven primarily by the biomedical and food industries, provide new and exciting technology transfer opportunities for the water industry.

New developments promise:

• A more rapid and precise detection of specific micro-organisms.• Microbial source tracking (MST) - which has the potential to discriminate between different

sources of faecal contamination in the environment. Many different techniques are currently used for recreational water applications but MST is also being evaluated by the US Environmental Protection Agency for distribution systems.

This study is providing water companies with an up-to-date and thorough evaluation of new microbiological methods and assessing their practical value for improving operational practice and supporting water quality risk-based frameworks.

• Provide a more rapid and reliable detection of specific micro-organisms, supporting a risk-based approach for safeguarding water quality.

• Improve catchment management and support good operational practice when investigating drinking water supply chain incidents.

• Discriminate between different sources of contamination in recreational waters, helping to develop effective control strategies and supporting any legal actions.


Benefits to Clients

Recent amendments to the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations, has moved safeguarding water quality firmly towards a risk-based approach. Risk assessments, demonstrating appropriate protection measures are in place, are required to support Drinking Water Safety Plan (DWSP) development. This approach is also required by OFWAT when taking account of PR09 submissions.

This project is developing an interactive risk-based decision tool, to:

• Reduce the uncertainties in assessing the risks from microbes in water supplies.• Test the validity and robustness of DWSPs for managing microbe removal through treatment. • Predict the performance of a variety of “what if” changes to treatment or catchment protection

strategies. • Assess compliance monitoring parameters - predicting performance below current detection

levels (e.g. <1 E.coli/100ml).

• Support compliance with the new regulatory framework for safeguarding water quality.• Improve decision-making for effective monitoring, including source waters, and control strategies.• Identify the most cost-effective short and long-term options to secure and improve microbial

water quality and target capital expenditure where it is most needed. • Assess the benefits of new technologies for water treatment.• Identify optimal conditions for microbial removal efficiency, taking into account variabilities in

process performance, and changing environmental conditions.

On-Going Projects PortfolioCollaborativeResearch

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CP354aPesticideRemoval Tests

CP331Validating the Cause of ColiformOccurrences in Drinking Water


Benefits to Clients

Follow-up investigations carried out by water companies following coliform occurrences in drinking water are often unable to provide valid reasons for their presence. Recently, the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) has been critical of some of these investigations and their conclusions. It has requested that water companies exercise due diligence and investigate these occurrences more thoroughly.

Currently, there is no consensus view for the industry on what would represent a thorough investigation of a coliform occurrence and water companies have developed their own individual responses.

This project is collating water company responses to coliform occurrences and, by agreement between participants and the DWI, is devising a standard operating procedure for investigation and remediation. The DWI is providing the project with anonymous examples of what it considers to be good and poor investigative follow-up reporting.

Funding is being provided by UKWIR and DWI, with WRc the appointed contractor.

• Demonstration of due diligence to DWI.• Reduction in lengthy and costly investigations when responding to the occurrences of coliforms.


Benefits to Clients

Performance data for the removal of pesticides, particularly the urons, acid herbicides and triazine compounds, were developed in the 1990s and resulted in widespread water treatment capital programmes. Recently, awareness of other pesticides has been raised, and there is a need to establish whether current water treatment provides adequate removal of these. The objective of this work is to obtain water treatment performance data for a range of pesticides, including clopyralid, picloram, triclopyr, propyzamide, ethofumesate and methiocarb. A literature review has identified published information on the removal of these compounds by water treatment processes, and laboratory tests are being carried out to evaluate removal by activated carbon adsorption or ozonation.

• Confirmation of the performance of treatment for removal of specific pesticides.• Identification of the need for additional treatment, and the most cost effective treatment options,

for the pesticides investigated.


Benefits to Clients

Regulatory changes have led to much tighter monitoring and control of water treatment, and in particular improvement in the efficiency of particle removal by rapid filtration processes. Overall operation of filtration is less well optimised however, and there is scope to both reduce costs and increase security by suitable monitoring. Filter backwashing, in particular, is critical to the filtration process. A system to monitor backwashing directly and automatically would provide added security by detecting any deterioration in efficiency while reducing energy and water usage. The system could be based on one or more approaches including: inter-filter comparison of initial (clean) bed headloss and subsequent headloss development rate; on-line monitoring of suspended solids in the backwash stream; remote observation of backwashing by low cost camera.

This work is examining current approaches to monitor solids capture (filtration) and solids release (backwashing). Alternatives have been identified which are being tested at an evaluation site. The goal is to provide a robust monitoring system which will allow energy and water usage to be optimised while ensuring that deterioration is detected.

• Reduced cost of filter operation through optimised use of water and energy for backwash.• Greater security and improved operational management by earlier identification of faults with filter

operation.


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CP369Stannous Chloride forPlumbosolvency Control

CP334Optimisation ofFilter Backwashing


Benefits to Clients

Treatment to reduce plumbosolvency to meet the permitted concentrations for lead in drinking water generally consists of phosphate dosing, usually as orthophosphoric acid, sodium orthophosphate or monosodium phosphate. Whilst this approach is generally effective, the cost of chemicals has approximately doubled of late and there is concern over the security of supply. A literature review carried out by WRc identified stannous chloride as a possible practical and economic alternative to orthophosphate.

In this study, practical laboratory trials are being carried out to confirm the performance of stannous chloride for plumbosolvency control under UK conditions on a range of water types. A market survey and environmental impact assessment is being carried out in parallel to the laboratory trials. The study is expected to be completed in April 2009 and, if successful, will be followed by pipe-rig and field studies in a second phase of study.

• An alternative to orthophosphate for plumbosolvency control• Reduced chemical costs• Security of supply


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CP358An Integrated Approach toContamination Risk

CP359Water Efficiency Devices -Savings Assessment


Benefits to Clients

The detection of malicious and accidental contamination of drinking water supplies represents a significant challenge to the UK Water Industry, due to the size and complexity of supply systems, the large number of potential contaminants and the wide range of instrumentation available. On-line water quality monitoring systems are little used in the UK to proactively detect contamination of raw or treated water.

This project is identifying instrumentation available for on-line monitoring and developing strategies to integrate this instrumentation with existing monitoring, to provide cost-effective protection against contamination events.

• Identify: the viability and costs of monitoring strategies to protect against contamination; available instrumentation; and, the most cost-effective approaches for a defined situation.

• Effective planning of monitoring strategies. • Facilitate discussions with regulators regarding the costs and benefits of on-line monitoring.


Benefits to Clients

Ofwat has recently announced a new water supply and demand policy which includes water efficiency targets for water companies for the AMP 5 period and requires companies to: save an estimated one litre of water per property per day annually; improve information to customers; and, actively help improve the evidence base for water efficiency.

A cost-benefit analysis study of large scale water efficiency programmes, commissioned by the ministerially-led Water Saving Group, has recently been completed. The study estimated water savings from individual devices by disaggregating results from a basket of measures. The results indicated wide variation between studies and highlighted the need for more robust evaluation of the actual impact of commonly used water saving devices.

This project is collecting micro-component data, using WRc's Identiflow system, from a sample of domestic properties before and after water saving devices are installed. This will provide accurate assessments of the relative impact of different devices as a contribution to total savings and also enable any behavioural changes to be differentiated from appliance characteristic changes.

• Increased evidence base of impacts of commonly used water saving devices for future water efficiency or demand management planning at a microcomponent level.

• Provision of measured data to support regulatory reporting of water efficiency or demand reduction options.


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CP348aPumps -Optimisation and Replacement

CP360Commercial MeterUnder-registration


Benefits to Clients

The size and type of pumps used for different purposes in the water industry varies enormously; as does the cost of failure. Managing such a large stock of variable pump types is extremely complex and demanding. To be effectively managed, pumps need to be grouped and allocated their own programme, according to factors such as:

• Whole life costs and specifically energy costs. • Consequential risk of failure.• The pump duty; steady intermittent and variable. • Maintenance/replacement schedules.

This project is developing cost-effective management plans for each group based on operational stress envelopes, using real life data from the Water Utilities, the Pump Centre and Advanced Energy Monitoring Systems Ltd (AEMS). The management programme is also incorporating key pump management factors such as whole life costs (WLC) – including carbon, proactive and reactive maintenance, monitoring, stress factor in service and service failure costs.

• Potential for direct costs savings through a comprehensive pump management strategy driven by whole life costs.

• Mechanism to include carbon considerations in pump management.


Benefits to Clients

Commercial revenue meters account for a significant proportion of water consumption so it is important that any under-registration is understood. Whilst individual companies have carried out tests on samples of meters, unlike domestic meters, there has been no concerted effort to study performance trends.

With varying meter sizes and types e.g. single jet, turbine, electromagnetic and rotary piston, identifying meter performance and changes over time is more complicated than with the typically smaller rotary piston meters used in domestic metering. Many practical issues need to be considered such as the availability and cost of obtaining test data covering different meter types, sizes and ages, and the availability of consumption data required to determine volumetric under-registration from meter error curves.

This project is testing a sample of meters and bringing together existing test data to provide a robust data set upon which to base under-registration for commercial meters and showing how this can be used to derive cost-efficient replacement strategies.

• Improve under-registration estimates used in water balance and leakage calculations.• Provide robust independent data to support estimates of commercial meter under-registration.• Minimise revenue loss.• Enable informed planning of cost effective meter replacement policies.


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CP310Comparing Energy Efficiency:Where Are We Good?

CP024Geographical InformationUser Group


Benefits to Clients

Pumps and treatment plants are major energy users. Despite the similarity between works and supply systems, there is wide variation in the amount of energy used per unit of production.

Supported by major UK, Irish and Italian water utilities, this successful programme has developed a web-based benchmarking software tool to enable energy use comparisons at both the process and works level. Pilot studies have now been completed at each participating company, and in the current phase of the project use of the software is rolled out for use at any application that the participants wish. Information on works design and operation is being collected, together with data on flows and electricity use, to calculate and compare Energy Performance Indicators, which form the basis for the benchmarking.

• Reduced energy costs by eliminating identified waste and inefficiency.• Targeting of capex and maintenance to those elements that are least efficient and the greatest

energy users.• Improved planning of future energy costs on the basis of achievable efficiencies rather than on

arbitrary targets.

ResearchForesight

Partnership


Benefits to Clients

Since it's inception in 2000, the Geographical Information User Group (GIUG) has provided its' participants with a much valued forum to keep abreast of, and maximise value from the incredible developments in Geographical Information Systems and related technology. The current 2 year programme is focussing on:

1. Best practice in field data collection.

2. Using data to provide real business benefit.

These themes have developed as a result of the thorough benchmarking exercise undertaken during the previous membership period. To maximise the value of the Group, agreed topics within these themes will be explored in collaboration with relevant suppliers, interest groups and other industry sectors.

The key power of the GIUG lies in the unique gathering of experts, every quarter, to investigate shared business problems with spatial (location) elements - which accounts for up to 80% of all business information!

• Identify how to use geographic data to derive genuine business benefit.• Adopt best practice in geographical information and related technology.• Cost-effectively assess vendor products, through peer review.

CP346Web-BasedBenchmarking Tool


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CP347Development ofTR61 V10.0 Software


Benefits to Clients

TR61 is a sophisticated software package which enables estimates of capital and operating costs to be made in a consistent, robust and auditable manner. The inclusion of capital maintenance estimates enables the prediction of Whole Life Costs (WLC) for a wide range of options for water and wastewater treatment.

The usefulness of TR61 depends on its data and information, being kept up-to-date. The current focus on carbon means that this now needs to be factored into assessments in a consistent and reliable way. This project is:

• updating the capex models by including new capex data;• reviewing and updating the opex models;• including carbon emissions for constructing and operating facilities.

• Comprehensive costing tool for the water industry; enabling whole life costs and carbon emissions to be estimated for schemes.

• Ensure outputs from Capex models continue to reflect current utility best practices. • Enhanced Opex models that reflect the latest data available. • Estimation of carbon emissions for both building (embodied carbon) and operating water and

wastewater treatment assets.

This project is only available to UK Water Utilities (due to data supply/ownership issues)


Benefits to Clients

UK water companies are being compared against each other by their regulator in order to assess performance. At a recent PR09 conference, the regulator has hinted that companies will be expected to improve efficiency by extracting more value from the data they collect and hold. The onus will be on water companies to undertake sound and robust analysis to show that their performance and efficiency are adequate. Benchmarking will therefore become an important part of the business.

The information publicly available tends to be aggregated at high level (June Return; Overall Performance Assessment, financial reports, etc) so is not very useful for in-depth comparison and potential improvement. A more detailed benchmarking tool would help companies to understand where they stand in comparison with their peers. This project is developing a web-based benchmarking tool to enable water companies to compare their performance at a detailed level.

A detailed performance and financial benchmarking website will provide:

• Data consistency across sector.• Detailed understanding of performance and associated spend inter and across companies.• Tool to identify improvement, improve efficiency and highlight differences.


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CP355Underground Asset Information -Meeting Future National Requirements


Benefits to Clients

The Traffic Management Act 2004 (TMA) includes important new powers in relation to records, which has significant implications for asset owners.

There is widespread recognition of the need for a step change in this area and the current revision of the Records Code of Practice and Regulations and related work is seen as an important opportunity to make significant progress. It is expected that the new Code and Regulations will come into force in 2011.

The project is helping participating organisations to prepare to meet the challenges by providing a thorough health check and identifying potential changes to business processes and working practices, systems and data.

• Ensure that participants are fully aware of the emerging requirements and implications, and help future-proof plans.

• Provide an overview of the current status and likely outcomes of wider related initiatives, e.g. improved techniques for location of underground assets.

• Benchmark business processes and systems and ability to meet future requirements, and provide other business benefits.

• Assist in developing road maps.• Develop a more robust understanding of the business case and provide an opportunity to

influence the development of the Code and Regulations.

CP329Specification and Maintenance of GeocellularUnderground SUD Storage Systems


Benefits to Clients

Sewerage Undertakers are under pressure to adopt geocellular SUD storage systems that are located in public open space. This has created a need for both design specifications and greater understanding of their long-term operation and maintenance.

These systems normally comprise buried modular plastic structures, which are stacked into the required volume. Concerns regarding their ongoing maintenance liability include:

• Deterioration in hydraulic performance e.g. from siltation within the storage; structure or clogging of media/perforated pipework feeding to and draining away from the structure;

• Structural integrity, particularly where the excavated material is mounded over the buried storage to avoid the cost of its disposal;

• Leak tightness;• Vulnerability of the materials to rodents, chemicals, oils, etc.;• Access to the structures for maintenance/repair operations.

This project is identifying solutions to technical concerns, developing best practice guidance and preparing a draft Specification for design, installation, operation and maintenance.

• Clear understanding of the implications of adopting of geocellular SUD systems.• Access to a common technical specification for these assets.• Better understanding of their operation and maintenance to inform business decisions.


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CP361Odour ManagementPlans

CP364Carbon Accounting for Pipeline Installationand Rehabilitation Techniques


Benefits

Water Industry suppliers are increasingly competing on environmental performance. Some suppliers of renovation lining systems are developing measures of the 'carbon footprint' for their products. However, estimating an embodied carbon measure – even for simple products – is a complex process, which, depending on scope and coverage, may require estimating greenhouse gas (GHG) from all relevant elements in the manufacture-supply-use-disposal chain.

Addressing the common interest of both suppliers and water utilities, this project will allow products to be compared on a “level playing field” by developing a consistent, robust and auditable Embodied or Life Cycle Carbon measure for pipeline installation and rehabilitation techniques; which will comply with Ofwat and Defra guidance.

• Provide quantitative information on the GHG emissions associated with AMP5 pipeline capital expenditure programmes.

• Better understand pipeline capital works contribution to overall company GHG emissions.• Help develop pipeline capital works programmes which demonstrably comply with corporate

GHG emissions targets.• Provide manufacturers with a common measure and protocol to quantify the 'carbon footprint' of

their products and an independent demonstration of 'carbon footprint'.


Benefits to Clients

Utility companies have prepared Odour Management Plans (OMPs) for a number of wastewater and sludge treatment sites as a result of implementing best practice codes or, in some circumstances, to meet regulatory requirements.

The benefits of OMPs include improved operation of wastewater and sludge treatment works as well as better interactions with regulators and customers.

Factors which influence the costs of preparing OMPs for a company include:

• the number of sites covered - all sites verses selected sites;• the level of detail included and data availability;• the degree of standardisation of OMPs across a company.

This project is using the experience gained so far to identify: the costs and benefits of OMPs; whether they are fulfilling their requirements; opportunities to reduce preparation costs; and, the scope to add further value - such as improved regulatory interactions from a degree of inter-company standardisation.

• Sharing of experience and best practice on creation and implementation of OMPs.• Reduced costs of preparation of OMPs.• Increased benefits obtained from implementation of OMPs.

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CP370Water Industry Specifications forSmall Sewage Pumping Stations


Benefits to Clients

The water industry has identified the need to develop recognised standards for small pumping stations as a matter of urgency to support the proposed Defra unified standards for new sewers, which is to be based on Sewers for Adoption. The use of packaged pumping stations to a recognised standard could also substantially reduce the cost of upgrading up to an estimated 10,000 existing private pumping stations likely to be transferred to after 2011. However, as there are currently no recognised standards for these small pumping stations, the use of the existing Sewers for Adoption standard is likely to lead to over-engineering of the smaller private pumping stations with consequent additional costs. The Water UK Standards Board has approved the production of a set of Water Industry Specifications.

This project is providing a technical secretariat and support to draft a series of Water Industry Specifications for prefabricated pumping stations of different sizes.

• Reduced refurbishment costs of small private sewage pumping stations with potential saving of up to £50M to the Water Industry over 25 years.

• Appropriate standards will ensure that new pumping stations transferred from 2011 will be constructed to a suitable standard to allow them to be economically maintained by Sewerage Undertakers after transfer.

CP342Impact of Using Sewers forFood Waste Disposal


Benefits to Clients

Encouraging the use of food grinders to dispose of domestic food waste via the sewers is attracting substantial interest from local authorities as an alternative to landfill disposal. A significant market penetration of these units could result in large quantities of food waste being transported by sewer for treatment by water companies - with potential to impact on sewer function and treatment costs.

To examine this, and other issues, WRc has engaged with key stakeholders, including Water Companies, Central government and Local Government, to establish the National Food Waste Disposal Programme. The planned programme is being funded by Defra and UKWIR and comprises a series of co-ordinated and shared cost projects. These include technical assessment of the impact of using sewers to dispose of food and other macerated waste and a full sustainability assessment of the alternatives.

The overarching objective for the programme is to provide evidence to support development of fully informed policies that all stakeholders can reach agreement on. Organisations can gain access to the programme as Associate Stakeholders.

• UK based evidence on the impact of food waste into the sewerage system• Reduced food waste disposed to landfill• Potential energy renewal• More informed government policy• Support discussions with the public

Image supplied by G & G PumpServices Ltd

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CP367The Effect of Reduced Water Usageon Sewer Solid Movement in Small Pipes

CP368Understanding the Impactof Interceptors


Benefits to Clients

Interceptor traps (also called Buchan traps or Winsor traps) were provided on almost all drain th thconnections from the mid 19 century until the mid 20 century. The blockage rates on sewers with

interceptors has been found to be up to 100 times the blockage rate on comparable modern sewers without interceptors. However, the effect of the number of interceptors on drain and sewer systems and the blockage rate at interceptors is not known.

This project is developing a model to estimate the numbers and different types of interceptors in public and private sewers and lateral and private drains and predict the blockage rate for each interceptor type. The project is also examining the costs and implications (including legal requirements) of interceptor removal and installation.

A robust estimate of the numbers of interceptors and the blockage rates will allow sewerage undertakers to:

• Understand the true costs of interceptors on their existing public sewers.• Understand whether there is a robust business case for proactive removal of interceptors in

accordance with the Sewerage Rehabilitation Manual (SRM) procedure and demonstrate this to the economic regulator.

• Improve their understanding of the costs of interceptors following transfer of private sewers and laterals in England and Wales.


Benefits to Clients

Reducing water consumption, for example, as detailed in the Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH), will result in less wastewater being passed to sewer. Whilst research has shown that water saving devices such as low flush WC's, can dramatically reduce water usage, there is a risk that their use could inadvertently lead to problems with the movement of sewer solids; potentially increasing the likelihood of blockages and property flooding/environmental pollution incidents.

This project is developing a better practical understanding of the link between reduced water usage and increasing problems with solid movement in small pipes. This work will forewarn developers, sewerage undertakers and regulators as to the type and scale of problems that may be expected with reduced water usage. The experimental programme is being designed in collaboration with Prof David Butler of the Centre for Water Systems at the University of Exeter.

Improved understanding of the link between reduced water usage and potential problems with solid movements in low flows, will establish whether:

• Installing water saving devices in properties with drains built to current standards will have an impact on drain serviceability.

• The widespread use of water saving devices in an area (e.g. a new development) will have an impact on the serviceability of sewers built to current design standards.

• There is a need to change existing design standards for drains and sewers to reflect lower water usage.

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