WET News

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

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