Winners of Innovation Award
In 2022, The Strategic Pipeline Alliance (SPA) was challenged to future-proof water supplies in the east of England. This will mean installing hundreds of kilometers of new, interconnecting large-diameter pipelines to allow Anglian Water to move water from areas of surplus to areas of deficit.
Considered one of the largest infrastructure projects in the UK, we are delighted to have been awarded the “Innovation Award” (Anglian Supplier Awards 2022) for the vital role we played in the successful design and delivery of a new the new low water commissioning process successfully applied to the newly constructed Norwich to Wymondham water main. Demonstrating a huge water saving over traditional methods of 86% approximately 13Ml on just one scheme.
The Problem
When SPA pipes are delivered to sites they meet ‘food hygiene standards’ and are spotlessly clean, but they need to be just as clean when laid to carry drinking water safely.
Traditionally the new mains would be cleaned, flushed, pressure tested and disinfected using fresh clean water from the network. This would require Anglian Water supplying vast quantities of clean potable water to the project whilst maintaining customer supplies. Recognising the volumes required to commission the new pipelines and the issues associated with this supply an alternative process was required, one which vastly reduced the volumes required to achieve their goal whilst maintaining the required standard of cleanliness.
The Solution
The challenge was massive and the path to innovation took time and effort through a series of practical trials, but we designed a new air swab washing and disinfection process for the delivery of water mains using a new low water commissioning process replacing much of the water used and wasted with Clean food grade compressed air, In accordance with ISO 8573-1.2.1
The process was then proven on a 12km stretch of pipeline from Norwich to Wymondham (N2W). Results were as follows:
- 1st-time pass of a single pressure test across 12km of pipeline: no leaks.
- Calculated Conventional water use during commissioning (per AWS water footprint models) = 14.6Ml
- Actual water use using low water methods = 1.98Ml
- Percentage water usage savings achieved for overall project = 86%
- Potential for further savings (Pipeline Commissioning Complete /Pump Station unavailable) = 1.8Ml
- Potential opportunity for water savings next time = 97-99%
This new N2W Scheme went into supply early July 2022.
As a Commissioning team we now continue to design, co-ordinate, supervise & deliver an industry-leading approach to lowering the water footprint in the process of commissioning transfer pipelines in keeping with strict Water Industry Standards.
Forecasts predict SPA Water Saving for Commissioning duties to be circa 90% (1.35bn litres) but will only be achieved if we continue to lay the pipelines hygienically, adhere to high standards of assembly whilst keeping to programme.
Cleaning process for rehabilitation of drinking water mains
At the request of Yorkshire Water Richard worked in partnership with Yorkshire Water to develop an innovative solution to clean and prepare drinking water pipes from 3” to 12” prior to rehabilitation using a spray on lining technique. The solution proved successful and achieved the following benefits:Reduced Asset damage.
- No Waste Water to be disposed of.
- Totally Enclosed System reducing potential contamination.
- Leaves a Dry Clean substrate for application
- Reduced Time scales.
- Greater Flexibility.
Cleaning / Chlorination process for LDTM’s to reduce Discolouration
Richard worked in Partnership with Yorkshire Water, United Utilities and Balfour Beatty to develop a new process to remove manganese and other bio-films from Trunk mains. The solution provided many advantages over traditional methods by reducing excavations, increasing productivity, delivering an increased performance all within a reduced and more consistent budget. Overall Health and Safety was increased due to the innovative solution developed to allow the swab to enter and exit the main whilst allowing the asset to retain its own integrity.
Cleaning / Chlorination process for drinking water mains affected by tubercles
Richard worked with Yorkshire Water to develop a soft cleaning solution to replace flushing operations on problem distribution mains.
The solution enables much higher cleaning velocities to be achieved with out being dependent on or affecting surrounding supplies. This results in a deeper longer lasting clean with out damaging the tubercles.
Lining solution to reduce lead in small bore service and supply pipes
Working in partnership with Yorkshire Water developed the worlds first small bore PE lining rigs. Enabling the in situ application of a fast cure polyurethane resin lining to customer supply and service pipes to provide a safe barrier between the lead and the drinking water. Reducing the need to dig expensive holes in the carriageway or the customer’s drive.