Water & Wastewater Treatment

4 | APRIL 2014 | WWT | www.wwtonline.co.uk Industry news April The UK is lagging well behind countries like Israel, Canada, Singapore and the Nether- lands on water technology investment and innovation, according to a report from UK Water Research & Innova- tion Partnership (UKWRIP), launched at the House of Commons on 11 March. In the six-year period to 2020, the opportunities in the global market represent over £30Bn. However, today, the UK's share of the global mar- ket in water technology is just £1.5Bn, or 3%, involv- ing around 15,000 jobs in 400 small and medium- sized enterprises (SMEs). UKWRIP's Tapping the Po- tential report says it estimates that "the UK could increase its global market share in ● UK could multiply its share of the global market ● Major opportunities in water engineering UK falling behind on innovation investment Contract Tracker Scottish Water alliances announced Two joint ventures, Caledonia Water Alliance (CWA) and BBV Alliance, have been announced as Scottish Water's infrastruc- ture partners for its SR15 2015-2021 investment period. CWA will deliver £360M of investment in water infrastructure, while BBV will undertake the £340M spend on wastewa- ter. CWA is a partnership between Morrison Utility Services and AECOM, and the BBV Alliance com- prises Black & Veatch and Amey subsidiary Byzak. The alliances are now working with Scottish Water to procure Tier One suppliers to help deliver the programme. Thames awards £2M security framework Thames Water Utilities (TWU) has appointed security and perim- eter fencing systems manufacturer Zaun to a three-year framework agreement worth around £2M. Thames chose Zaun as one of four appointed contractors for their framework agreement for the supply and installation of security fencing and gates, and one of three for ongoing maintenance. Thames expects to save almost £500,000 with the new framework agree- ment, which has an option to renew for two years. water technology innovation to at least 10% (£8.8 billion), providing 71,000 jobs and in- volving around 960 SMEs." David Lloyd Owen, manag- ing director of consultancy Envisager said, "When you look at areas where water and wastewater innovation are thriving, such as in Sin- gapore, the Netherlands, Is- rael and Ontario, they are all characterised by strong co- operation between academe, industry and utilities, which allows entrepreneurs the best chance of turning benež cial innovations into commercial realities. By speeding up the devel- opment, trialling and com- mercialisation processes, these companies become more attractive to investors such as venture capitalists. "Another important area is in providing mentoring and marketing support which is tailored across the lab-bench to sales process. We have re- markable capabilities in the sector here in the UK. With a suitably supportive framework, could make a real di¡ erence worldwide in the coming years and decades." Major market opportunities in water highlighted by the report, including a £50Bn municipal and industrial market for water engineer- ing and chemical products, a projected £13.8Bn wastewater reclamation market by 2017 and a £9-13Bn smart water market by 2020 as demand grows for real-time data. British Water chairman Mark Lane said, "If we can now move forward to implement- ing the recommendations in the report, we will be tak- ing the ž rst key steps to in- creasing the UK's share of the global water technology market from its present esti- mated £1.5Bn to an estimated £8.8Bn by 2030." Innovation Hub, page 35 Polypipe doubles manufacturing capacity: Drainage specialist Polypipe, has more than doubled production capacity and workforce at its site in Loughborough to meet demand for its Ridgistorm-XL large-diameter pipe system. The company says the multi-million pound investment into the 5,110m 2 facility will help to service demand for products including valves, penstocks, fl ow controllers, weir walls and pumping stations. £78Bn is estimated to be the overall investment potential of India's water sector by 2030. The treatment market alone is growing annually by about 18% and the government's fi ve year plan to 2017 states that economic growth of 8-9% is possible only if water needs of the growing population are met. "Strong cooperation between academe, indus- try and utilities … allows entrepreneurs the best chance of turning ben- efi cial innovations into commercial realities" www.wwtonline.co.uk | WWT | APRIL 2014 | 5 Polluters pay Sentencing guideline will hit utilities Water companies convicted of sewage discharge offences will be affected by new guidelines published by the Sentencing Council (SC). The SC says the guideline was necessary because magistrates were unfamiliar with sen- tencing offences relating to waste. Fines for organisations, which range from £100 to £3M, are expected to reflect turnover values in a move that aims to send a message to organisa- tions and their shareholders. The guideline also includes the of- fence of passing injurious matter into the public sewers, which should ensure appropriate sentencing when water companies bring prosecutions against those abusing their networks. Neil Dhot of utility trade body Water UK said, "It is likely that this is going to be a step change compared to what has gone before." The guideline will be used in courts from 1 July 2014. Company falls fowl of FOG law Poultry processing company Makentie has been fined by Warrington Magis- trates for pouring away fats, oils and greases (FOG) that could have blocked sewers and caused flooding. The case on 5 March was brought by United Utilities a er the water company's staff carried out investigations near the firm's base in Golborne. The Makentie plant pleaded guilty to three breaches of the Water Industry Act 1991. It was fined £6,500, and ordered to pay £5,523 costs. Tank misuse lands Welsh with fine Incorrect use of stormwater tanks has landed Dwr Cymru Welsh Water (DCWW) with a £15,000 fine a er the utility admitting breaching a permit. Higher than permitted levels of sewage entered the River Clywedog following the breach at Five Fords wastewater treatment plant, the court in Wrexham heard. DCWW has since invested £25M at the Wrexham works. Affinity and SWW accept Ofwat guidance ● SWW prices could fall by 13% Untreated wastewater still an issue for Ireland Ireland's Environmental Protection Agency's latest urban wastewater report has revealed that wastewaters from towns and villages in the counties of Cork, Done- gal, Wicklow, Galway, Clare, Mayo, Waterford, Wexford and in Dublin are still being discharged either untreated South West Water (SWW) and Affinity Water moved closer to fast-track approval by accept- ing Ofwat's guidance on risk and reward on 17 March. The move follows both companies topping the regulator's pre- qualification tests earlier last month. SWW presented Ofwat with updated plans that could see average prices falling by 13% in real terms by 2020. The company had already con- firmed a price freeze on its standard tariff and standing charges to April 2015 and pre- viously proposed to keep aver- age bill rises below inflation to 2020. In addition, bills already include a £50 annual reduc- tion from government to 2020. Ofwat's decision to pre- qualify Affinity Water and South West Water (SWW) for a fast-tracked price determina- tion will be credit positive for Affinity, according to Moody's Investors Service. Moody's said that if Affinity accepts Of- wat's return guidance and is fast-tracked, it will not only re- ceive an early dra– determina- tion, it will also earn an initial financial reward, amounting to around 0.4% of its average VOX POP "Catchment management should be better incentivised through the Common Agricultural Policy and the private sector should be encouraged to contribute voluntarily or made to through business rates" Nicole Shamier, Ricardo-AEA "The Milton Keynes:Smart project will show how the world-leading water management expertise we have developed at HR Wallingford can be integrated with big data analytics to develop new approaches to managing water and achieving sustainable growth" Valerie Bain HR Wallingford "Our business plan got a big thumbs- up from customers who helped to shape it, and it has been praised by the regulator" Chris Loughlin, South West Water or with minimal treatment into seas and rivers. The EPA found that wastewaters from a number of sites are receiv- ing only primary treatment. The report shows that 94% of wastewaters re- ceived some treatment, a 300% increase over the past 10 years, and that 69% of secondary treatment plants meet their main effluent standards, a 5% improve- ment on 2012. However vari- ous sites failed nutrient and sampling standards. wwtonline.com regulatory capital value over the next regulatory period. There will also be enhanced incentives for future outper- formance compared with companies that are not fast- tracked. Companies other than SWW and Affinity have to re-submit their plans along with further evidence that they are in customers' best interest. The companies will remain subject to additional regulatory scrutiny, and will not receive the financial re- ward or the higher incentive payments that the fast-tracked companies will receive. Ofwat's chief executive, Cathryn Ross said, "The chal- lenge Ofwat put to all water and wastewater companies was to understand their cus- tomers' needs and wants and reflect these in their business plans. Companies have risen to this challenge with a real change of approach." Chief regulation officer for Ofwat, Sonia Brown, added, "The plans submitted by SWW and Affinity Water stand out. These companies have achieved plans of par- ticularly high quality, with a consistent focus on listening and responding to what their customers want." wwtonline.com

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