WET News

6 | WET News | February 2014 Charity partner expert speakers include Rachel Dyson Programme Manager - FOG/ Unflushables Anglian Water Martin Perrin Strategic Waste Planning Manager Thames Water Catherine Harrold Head of Water Supply Defra Simon Chadwick Wastewater Services Director United Utilities Paul Hickey Head of Land and Water Quality Environment Agency Simon Cocks Wastewater Services Director Severn Trent Water Brian Smith Drainage Strategy Manager Yorkshire Water Steve Wilson Director of Wastewater Services Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water WWT's Wastewater infrastructure & networks conference is a must-attend event for all wastewater service providers looking to optimise existing assets. attend this one-day conference to: Find new ways to improve your flood risk management and asset resilience strategy Understand where Thames Water is taking different approaches in AMP6 Discuss strategies for optimal wastewater network management, including integrated approaches, with your peers Gain first-hand insight into the sewer pollution reduction transformation in Wales Hear how Anglian Water is communicating with customers and working with stakeholders to reduce FOG in the network Explore the vision of a future Smart wastewater network Book noW at www.WWt-wastewater.net Follow us @WWtlive using #wastewater Supported by Organised by Wastewater-245x170mm.indd 1 06/01/2014 13:51 | NEWS ANALYSIS THE FIRST request when Wet News set out to research this wish-list was to "bin it, and have some action instead". There were few calls for government action or spending: perhaps this is no surprise given such a hard- headed, pragmatic industry as water construction that does not naturally turn to government for support. Added to which there is a whiff of optimism about 2014. It may well be that after sev- en years of grim trading and economic crisis, small lifts in performance seem like booms but there are still some formi- dable challenges facing con- tractors in the water industry. First and foremost of those is the economy. The recession is over but growth has not returned in any meaningful way. There is little evidence of sustained recovery in the offing and cost pressures on the supply chain will remain while customers demand ever more competitive prices. Whether the government will succeed in boosting the economy – the tried and test- ed means of gaining electoral advantage – remains to be seen and, more crucially, the same applies to the likelihood of any uplift continuing past spring 2015. But confidence is high with- in water sector. Paul Mallorie, group business development director at J Murphy & Sons, says: "We recognise the pres- sure on margins with the con- tinual need to reduce costs and add value, and consider that placing the customer at the heart of the innovation value chain to deliver more sustainable end solutions will play a critical role in address- ing these." Vital infrastructure On the wish-list is help with flood defence: although the water industry has not been as demanding as the Local Gov- ernment Association (LGA), which warns vital investment in local growth and infra- structure projects could suffer if government does not step Confidence is high despite the slow economic growth water, power and nutrients from wastewater for exam- ple," Allan says. "We have taken a unique approach to help clients meet new guide- lines for drinking water quality, applying GIS-based methodologies to help them understand and visualise lead risk spatially," he says. Contractors, who have sur- vived some very tough times since the financial crisis that started in 2007, say they are well-placed to thrive in the water sector. "We are com- mitted to tackling the chal- lenges that clients and end- users from the water sector have been facing and believe that the delivery strategy of frameworks and separately tendered major projects is the right approach," Mallorie says. Less a wish, more an achiev- able objective, is Black & Ve- atch's quest for safe working. "For us, our water clients and the wider industry, nothing is more important than keeping everyone safe and well," Al- lan says. This commendable aim is an industry-wide objective. "No single company is indus- try-leading on its own. With increased focus on collabora- tion, supply chain integration and leadership involvement to deliver best practice in the workplace we can achieve an ever safer environment. 2013 saw us achieve our best ever site safety results," he says. Cost effective It is the water industry's self- reliance that results in few companies applying for gov- ernment grants available to help construction companies innovate. According to re- search by Constructionline and Capita Property and In- frastructure, more than 80% of construction firms are una- ware grants are available to support innovation and only 4.1% of construction compa- nies have actually applied for grants. Ganey Bond, business sup- port manager, Construction- line, says: "According to our research, last year's annual spend on R&D was around £66,250 among high scoring (20 points plus) firms, but just less than £16,000 on av- erage. In addition, more than eight out of ten construction firms were not aware of fund- ing for innovation, includ- ing schemes like Technol- ogy Strategy Board grants, Knowledge Transfer Partner- ships and R&D tax relief." Richard McWilliams, di- rector of innovation, Capita Property and Infrastructure, which co-sponsored the sur- vey, says: "Innovation is vital for economic growth and, with an ever increasing fre- quency, buyers are seeking an innovative approach to en- sure continuous improvement and more cost effective prod- ucts, processes and services from the supply chain. "Often, this translates into a requirement within ten- der questions for bidders to demonstrate how they are in- novating. A handful of com- panies thrive on an opportu- nity to broadcast their cutting edge approach, but for many, it prompts a troublesome scrabble for a response that fits the bill," he said. ■ The past years have been tough for many contractors. But those who have survived some very tough times since the financial crisis that started in 2007, say they are well-placed to thrive in the water sector. Dean Stiles reports. in to ease the cost of flood repairs. Councils are now call- ing for government help to cover the repair bill estimated to run into hundreds of mil- lions of pounds following the extreme weather this winter. Recent storm events placed severe pressure on the coun- try's flood defences and posed a potential threat to water company critical assets, says Mark Allan, UK division di- rector, Design & Build at Black & Veatch. "Through our work with the Environ- ment Agency and utilities we helped safeguard those at risk. Our flood defence projects stood up to the test, giving greater assurance to many thousands of people who would otherwise have faced great risk of flooding. As more extreme weather events are predicted in the future we foresee an even greater need to protect vital infrastructure," he says. Water contractors cite their achievements in technology and innovation as harbingers of success. "We are deploying technical solutions to solve our clients' water and waste- water challenges; engineering The past years have been tough for A wish-list for 2014 February 2014 | WET News | 7 FORUM | TEAM Published by: Faversham House, Windsor Court, Wood Street East Grinstead, West Sussex, RH19 1UZ T: 01342 332000 F: 01342 332001 Subscriptions: - 1 year: UK £99 Overseas (airmail) £113/$198 - 2 years: UK £171 Overseas (airmail) £199/$349 Publisher's note: This issue includes editorial photographs provided and paid for by suppliers. Online: Search WET News' archives for more jobs, news, features, products and services, events and training courses. Visit: www.wwtonline.co.uk Subscriptions: 0208 955 7045 or FHcustomerservices@abacusemedia.com WET News is registered at Stationers' Hall. Origina- tion by Faversham House Group, and PH Media, Roche, Cornwall. Printed by Pensord Press, Tram Road, Pontllanfraith, Blackwood, NP12 2YA. Copyright 2014. Faversham House. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior written permission from the publishers. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of material published in WET News. However, Faversham House will not be liable for any inaccuracies. The views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the editor or publishers. Text paper is printed on PEFC accredited paper. For more info see www.PEFC.org. License number PEFC/16-33-141. Technical articles of full page, or more appearing in this journal are indexed by British Technical Index. © 2014 Faversham House ISSN 1364-4513 Editor Maureen Gaines maureen.gaines@fav-house.com Production Editor Mike Smith Advertisement sales Deborah Lilley deborah.lilley@fav-house.com Classified sales Danielle Wood danielle.wood@fav-house.com Team administrator Clare Klos clare.klos@fav-house.com Production controller Sharon Miller sharon.miller@fav-house.com Publisher Angela Himus angela.himus@fav-house.com ABC Average circulation Jan-Dec 2012: 6,110 A member of: So, contractors are the least innovative. That's according to the latest report by Constructionline and Capita Property and Infrastructure, which suggests 80% of constuction companies are unaware that government grants are available to support innovation (see front page). I would dispute this. Just because a company is unaware of a government grant on innovation doesn't mean to say they are not being innovative. Contractors in the water industry are having to be innovative whether they want to or not. If they're not then the water companies simply pick someone else to undertake their projects. Also, there is a lot more collaboration in the industry now than there ever used to be. And as we head towards 2015 and the start of AMP6 this collaboration is very much focused on innovation. It's good to see contractors and the water companies working together in order to develop the very best solutions that will create an infrastructure that can cope with the demands of the future. This collaboration, though, should also extend to include local authorities particularly on matters concerning flood risk management and urban drainage. The storm events and resultant flooding experienced since before Christmas has only confirmed that the sewer network is unable to cope during such extreme weather. If lessons are to be learned to lessen the impact of future storms then the water companies, local authorities, contractors and the supply chain must work together and innovate for the best solutions. These are not the first storms to devastate areas with flooding, and they won't be the last. Of course, we can't control the rain but it is possible to predict those areas that will be most at risk from torrential downpours. In London, just 2mm of rainfall can trigger a discharge into stretches of the tidal River Thames. Thames Water's controversial solution is the £2.3B Thames Tideway Tunnel, which is currently before the Planning Inspectorate. This "super super" will tackle the problem of overflowing sewers. And the company is not hanging about in ensuring that work can get underway quickly if consent is given. Invitations have been issued for the £800M East package of construction work, and the Central package is expected in April. I don't know if this is the right solution, but if it does the job then it will be worth it. And let's not forget all the contractors and suppliers who will be benefiting too. Maureen Gaines Editor COMMENT It's good to see contractors and the water com- panies working together to create an infrastructure that can cope with the demands of the future When it comes to reliable drainage systems, we wrote the book. 20 reasons why concrete pipeline systems are the best option now and for the future Did you know that concrete pipes have a proven service life of well over a century? Or that the case for concrete includes its installed and whole-life cost, lower embodied carbon and structural robustness? This CPSA booklet shows you why concrete pipeline systems are the best choice for today and tomorrow. Download the proof at www.concretepipes.co.uk/20-reasons

• Cover