Water and Effluent Treatment Magazine
Issue link: https://fhpublishing.uberflip.com/i/593898
NOVEMBER 2015 WET NEWS 19 For insights and show news visit utilityweeklive.co.uk INNOVATION CONTENT STREAM: For insights and show news visit utilityweeklive.co.uk DATA & ANALYTICS CONTENT STREAM: For insights and show news visit utilityweeklive.co.uk RESILIENCE CONTENT STREAM: For insights and show news visit utilityweeklive.co.uk SKILLS CONTENT STREAM: For insights and show news visit utilityweeklive.co.uk TOTEX CONTENT STREAM: For insights and show news visit utilityweeklive.co.uk CUSTOMERS CONTENT STREAM: A solution: Keeping pumps on standby UU and Selwood have devised a temporary solution to maintain water levels when Ennerdale Water is low. U U is currently working closely with the EA, Natural England and the West Cumbria Rivers Trust on alternative ways to supply its customers without drawing from Ennerdale Water – balancing the needs of people with those of the environment. The company has developed plans to link West Cumbria to the rest of its regional water network so it can continue to supply its customers without fear of water shortage. The proposals incorporate a new pipeline from Thirlmere to West Cumbria, a new water treatment works, pumping stations and underground service reservoirs. This new pipeline will eventually eliminate the need to source drinking water from Ennerdale Water and at other sites in the region while maintaining a resilient supply that can cope with a growing population even in dry spells. In the shorter term, while abstraction continues at Ennerdale, the consensus was that there was a need to continue to maintain water levels in the Ehen with a more cost-effective, less visually obtrusive long-term solution which was environmentally sound and minimised the risk of water contamination. Pipeline The solution developed by UU and Selwood involved the temporary use of pumps that can be called upon only when the water level in the lake is deemed to be low. Water is sourced from an existing pipeline that runs to the nearby Ennerdale Water Treatment Works. UU had a manifold installed at the top of the pipe, which runs 8m below ground on the side of a hill. This supplies three 12" pipelines that run to a field adjacent to Ennerdale Water. Three 8" D200 super silent pumps manufactured by Selwood are stored in the field, maintained and ready to be brought into use when needed. The pumps are diesel-powered and stored with fuel tanks on specially-made drip trays designed to eliminate environmental contamination. The solution required pipework to be run across a public right of way, which UU achieved utilising the footbridge to ensure that access was not impeded. When required, the pumps can be employed to supply water via pipelines which run directly to the fishpass at the side of the river. This standby system is coupled with changes in the way existing abstraction equipment in Ennerdale Water is used to ensure river levels are maintained until the permanent new pipelines are installed. At all stages, all the teams involved have kept their focus on minimising environmental impact, working in partnership to balance the needs of people and nature and to secure Cumbria's wild spaces for generations to come. Water is sourced from an existing pipeline that runs to the nearby Ennerdale Water Treatment Works Three 8" D200 super silent pumps from Selwood are stored in a field ready to be brought into use when needed