Delivering ultra low loss networks alongside 7 UK water and sewerage companies

WRc Group is delighted to share exciting details of a collaborative research programme on behalf of 7 UK water and sewerage companies: Severn Trent, Anglian Water Services, Welsh Water, United Utilities, Southern Water, South West Water, and Thames Water. The programme will deliver critical insight on the long-term requirements to drastically reduce current leakage levels, and the role new networks must play in this. 

Reaching the required 50% reduction in leakage by 2050

This work builds on the experience of our technical specialists and technology partners in developing approaches for ultra-low loss networks overseas. It will provide robust and credible evidence on the long-term costs, benefits and risks associated with leakage on new networks, be that associated with new developments or rehabilitation. The WRc technical director for the study, Glen Mountfort, shares his thoughts on this WRc Portfolio collaboration:

There are long term challenges associated with reducing leakage in the UK and EIRE. The laying of new networks, whether associated with population growth and new development, or the rehabilitation of existing networks, is one of the key long-term tools that will be required in achieving National Infrastructure Commission recommendations and the stretching long-term reductions in leakage from current level that are a feature of companies Water Resource Management Plans.

The need to lay leak-free, or at the very least, ultra-low loss new networks is something that aligns with the UK Water Industry Research (UKWIR) big question in relation to leakage. If new networks are laid that don’t deliver ultra-low losses, this not only makes the likelihood of achieving the long-term goals unlikely, but every year that passes by can gradually add to the challenge of maintaining a static baseline.

In order to achieve ambitious and stretching targets and reduction profiles for leakage over the coming decades, it will be necessary to ensure that new networks are as close to leak-free as practically possible. The sooner this aim can be realised, the greater the longer-term benefit to the industry.

Pinweld Ltd is a plastic welding development technology company who have created an advanced and innovative precision welding technology capable of joining plastic and composite components with incredible accuracy and discreet joints. As part of this collaborative research programme, WRc will seek to understand the potential long-term benefit of this innovative solution to laying leak-free or ultra-low loss new networks, ensuring there is sufficiently robust data on costs, benefits and risks available to allow large scale trials to be conducted.