Water & Wastewater Treatment Magazine
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www.wwtonline.co.uk | WWT | XXXX 20XX | 29 Izzard estimates that the gas industry makes use of trenchless around 80 per cent of the time, compared to around 60 per cent in the water sector, and even that figure is inflated by the more widespread use of trenchless in sewer rehabilitation. There is some justification. For one thing, gas companies are able to make greater use of insertion techniques like slip lining as gas can be delivered at higher pressure for greater volume, while liquids depend on the diameter of the pipeline. Project costs in the gas sector are o en higher too, which increases the need to maximise cost efficiency. The fact that the water industry in the UK is made up of localised companies also makes wide- spread adoption as a policy and process much harder. Nonetheless, with Ofwat demand- ing water companies hit new heights in AMP7, Izzard is optimistic that we may soon see much wider take-up. "The great news for asset owners is that many of the solutions to the chal- lenges they face in meeting targets are already in existence," he says. "The developments in asset manage- ment, leak monitoring and detection, keyhole service replacement systems and larger diameter lining techniques can all provide a significant solution to the chal- lenges faced. "Contractors are willing to invest in equipment if they have the security of work and the program planning allows for the effective utilisation for that technique. That requires a closer collaboration from all parties when scheduling work, and the start of a new AMP period is a great opportunity for this." Ambler-Shattock believes the water companies will have little choice but to embrace trenchless solutions if they are to meet their targets. "The world has changed," he says. "It's now a service-driven environment, and the route that delivers minimal dis- ruption for the customer usually delivers cost savings. With open-cut, not only are you paying more because of things like traffic management and diversion routes, but you're o en incurring the wrath of the locals, no matter how hard you've tried to minimise the impact on them. "With trenchless, you can be installing mains services underground, even under a street, and people barely know it's hap- pening. You can o en conduct a mains lay in days rather than weeks, and main renewals in weeks rather than months. "The councils love it because it mini- mises disruption and complaints. Purely on that basis alone, you would struggle to find reasons not to do this. The benefits are multiple." www.wwtonline.co.uk | WWT | JUNE 2018 | 29 " On 1 April 2019, our new network maintenance services contract partners came on board to assist us with our investment programme to further upgrade and replace our network assets. "We now have four companies providing design and build capability in non-core (small water projects) and three companies in water specialist ser- vices. Typically the work is minor mains improvements, poor condition mains, water quality and pressure manage- ment valves. Water specialist services includes larger/complex mains replace- ment, trunk main and aqueduct repairs/ rehabilitation and major crossings. "As network engineering manager, I have been providing engineering support and advice to our project delivery teams, ensuring that we use cost-efficient and buildable techniques to install a robust and operable system that will reduce our leakage and continue to improve our exemplary customer service. "Trenchless technology, and the use of it, is at the forefront of our plans in water networks going forward into the next five-year investment period. "Our new supply chain partners were chosen for their design-and-build capability and proven track record of applying innovative technology and no-dig techniques for replacing mains efficiently and with a reduced footprint and minimal customer impact. "We are reviewing our historical capital intervention techniques from previous investment periods and select- ing the best methodologies. We're then seeking to blend these with new techno- logical approaches through effective site investigation and scoping of need that will allow our partners to develop cost- effective solutions with a wide range of techniques. "Many of these techniques are already available in the market includ- ing directional drilling, pipe bursting and lining with structural and semi- structural pipes. The critical factor to be considered is minimising the effect on our customers and maintaining a reduced level of interruptions to avoid 'minutes lost'. The use of under-pres- sure connections, under-pressure valve installations and line stops, along with temporary overland connections where appropriate, is essential. "In water specialist services, our supply chain has access to some of the most advanced directional drilling equipment in the world market and is currently looking to apply this tech- nique on some major pipeline replace- ment schemes. One potential candidate is the Barrow Link Main, replacing around 5km of 600mm ductile iron main that crosses an estuary and within a sensitive environmental area. "We are currently running a pro- gramme of network review workshops, along the lines of the hazard review methodology, which we have previously used in the water process section of the business, to forensically assess the efficiency and areas of risk within our water network areas, dividing our DMZs into nodes. "This allows us to engage all internal stakeholders and operators, including process and leakage teams, to work through DMZ schematic plans and raise issues that can be prioritised as business risks. "The information gathered at these sessions is uploaded into our newly developed 'My Risk' system, which is the global business risk prioritising tool and facilitates an informed investment plan based on ranked business risks across a full spectrum of asset types and business drivers." • WATER COMPANY VIEW "Trenchless technology, and the use of it, is at the forefront of our plans in water networks" BY JEREMY KNOX, ENGINEERING MANAGER (WATER NETWORKS), UNITED UTILITIES www.wwtonline.co.uk | WWT | XXXX 20XX | 29