WET News

4 WET NEWS DECEMBER 2014 News+ Use existing structure for independent infrastructure body • ICE is behind call for an independent infrastructure body in Sir John Armitt's Review, but says setting up a new entity will 'cause delay and uncertainty'. T he Institution of Civil Engi- neers (ICE) is urging all politi- cal parties to consider wheth- er an independent infrastructure body could be built on the existing structure rather than creating an entirely new entity. ICE is throwing its weight behind calls for an inde- pendent body to identify the UK's long-term infrastructure needs but said establishing a new entity could "cause delay and uncertainty". The institution was responding to Sir John Armitt's Review, which makes core recommendations for long-term decisions on the UK's energy, transport, water, waste, flood defences and telecommunica- tions needs. It agreed with Armitt's fundamental analysis of the issues holding back UK infrastructure development, and on the need for an evidence-based infrastructure strategy; a robust plan that ensures the strategy translates to activity on the ground; and an independent body locked in by legislation. It recommended that the detail in Armitt's proposal for a National NEED TO KNOW The National Infrastructure Commission would set clear infrastructure priorities, such as nationwide flood prevention or energy supply The Armitt Reviews says a new approach is needed to prepare the country for the major challenges ahead, such as population growth and climate change ICE's "restructure" proposal would result in an independent non-departmental body established through an Act of Parliament This independent non- departmental body would focus on strategy, National Investment and Delivery Plan, performance, and public engagement If the NIC is established promptly after the next General Election then a thorough assessment of the UK's infrastructure needs over the next 25-30 years could be completed mid-way through the 2015-2020 Parliament Infrastructure Commis- sion (NIC) was refined and further developed with the prin- ciples then being successfully applied to the framework that already exists by restructuring GOOD MONTH BAD MONTH Agricultural and utilities contractor FGS Agri has bought a controlling interest in Water Direct. Wessex Water subsidiary GENeco captures the media's attention for its Bio-Bus, powered by food waste and human effluent. Southern Water is fined £500k by Canterbury Crown Court for polluting Swalecliffe Brook following a pumping station failure. UK utilities are failing to carry out adequate assessments on CIPP lining installations, claims IKT Institute for Underground Infrastructure. HMT's Infrastructure UK as a non- governmental body. Simon Grubb, ICE's funding spokesperson, said a restructured body "could be operational more quickly than an entirely new body, avoiding loss of the hard won momentum behind infrastructure delivery secured in the last five to ten years". He also said it would avoid uncertainty around the gov- ernance of UK infrastructure, which could deter potential investors. ICE's "restructure" proposal would result in an independent non-departmental body estab- lished through an Act of Parlia- ment. The body would focus on strategy, National Investment and Delivery Plan, performance, and public engagement. Grubb said: "There is clearly a mismatch between the long-term nature of strategic infrastructure planning and short-term political cycles and the need to identify a way to deal with the negative con- sequences is growing more pressing. CONTRACT WINS • CH2M Hill's managing director for Europe, Mark Thurston, said the group is "delighted" to have been named delivery partner for the EA's TEAM 2100 Programme as part of a £300M contract. Thurston said: "This project is a vital piece of infrastructure that fits closely with our other major programmes in London, including Thames Tideway Tunnel, Crossrail and High Speed 2." • Clancy Docwra and Kier MG have signed contracts to carry out Anglian Water's water infrastructure maintenance work. The £140M deal includes carrying out about 40,000 jobs a year, such as repairing burst mains, finding and fixing leaks, and replacing lead pipes. • Severn Trent Water has awarded Selwood a three-year sole supplier framework agreement for the hire of surface and submersible pumps with a two-year extension option. Selwood has held a contract with Severn Trent since 2006. • A trio of organisations collaborate on project that could prevent costly and time-consuming repairs in the water sector. Proactive approach could 'transform' asset management S cottish Water is collaborat- ing with the University of Strathclyde and new innova- tion centre CENSIS on a project that "has the potential to trans- form" the ongoing maintenance and management of its assets by taking a more proactive, rather than a reactive, approach. According to the university, the project could contribute sig- nificant financial efficiencies while Scottish Water's service for customers. The university said Scottish Water has vast data concerning its water and wastewater pumping stations. However, a large number of pumps are o—en deployed in remote and demanding environ- ments and means failure can lead to costly and time-consuming repairs as well as impact service quality. The project will consider tech- niques to identify key signatures within large volumes of sensor derived data, enabling refinement and analysis so that Scottish Water can move towards "a richer application-based data" centred on prediction and maintenance scheduling. "Being able to intervene in a timely manner and execute pre- ventative maintenance strategies will result in significant cost sav- ings; improved equipment relia- bility will lead to reduced outages, lower operating penalties and ultimately higher margins. Addi- tionally, variability of supply will be minimised since potential pump failures will be more effec- tively managed." Robert White, water opera- tions north team manager at Scot- tish Water, said: "Prevention is always better than cure, and this piece of technology is going to act as an early warning system for potentially tens of thousands of our assets across the country. "This so—ware has the poten- tial to make proactive mainte- nance a much easier task," allow- ing the company to plan its resources more effectively." Dr Alison Cleary, a senior researcher in the Strathclyde group, commented: "The so—- ware could be used by almost any business that uses a large number of machines which require main- tenance. This is an exciting project that could lead to significant effi- ciencies and savings for busi- nesses in many sectors," she said. According to ICE, there is clearly a mismatch between the long-term nature of strategic infrastructure planning and short-term political cycles Call 01527 833383 for advice and support Low Energy Ventilation & Odour Control Efficient, Effective, Innovative Solutions Air Technology Systems Ltd 8 Aston Court, Bromsgrove Enterprise Park Bromsgrove, B60 3AL Tel: 01527 833383 www.atsclimate.com water industry specialists APPROVED CONTRACTOR "This does not mean removing the politics from decisions on infra- structure as this is neither possible nor desirable – but establishing a framework from which political parties can build consensus on the UK's infrastructure needs, and importantly one with public engagement at its heart so we fos- ter a link between the users and the providers of infrastructure. "Sir John Armitt's proposed alternative to the status quo is a valuable contribution to the infra- structure debate. ICE concurs with his analysis of what is stifling UK infrastructure development, and we agree on the need for some form of independent body. However, ultimately such a body would need to be established and effective quickly if we are to avoid stalling the momentum that has been achieved and shaking investor confidence at this crucial time. "We believe Sir John's proposal could be refined and further devel- oped – and that the principles could then be applied to the exist- ing Infrastructure UK, reforming it as a non-governmental body more quickly than a completely new entity. We urge all parties to con- sider the workability of this approach." "We believe Sir John's proposal could be refined and further developed – and that the principles could then be applied to the existing Infrastructure UK, reforming it as a non-governmental body more quickly than a completely new entity. We urge all parties to consider the workability of this approach." Simon Grubb, ICE

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