Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019

Mains renewal using WANDa for Severn Trent Water

To assist an AMP 6 mains renewal program, WRc experts utilised Water Asset Network Distribution analysis (WANDa) software to provide efficient delivery of client-defined criteria for network condition, performance and quality.

More on our Network Analysis services

Provided

efficiencies in delivering a program for mains condition, age of mains and burst frequency along with reducing the risk of water quality and customer supply complaints

Developed

a flexible package of outputs, analysing whole corporate data sets in order to deliver efficient, cost effective and innovative solutions for the client

Secured

our delivery of the following AMP renewal program for the remainder of the client distribution network, following success of our project outputs

Severn Trent Water

Globally one of the largest privately owned water companies, Severn Trent delivers clean water to 8 million customers via 534 service reservoirs, 20 treatment works and 45,674km of water mains.

The Challenge

Water companies are committed to delivering performance against Ofwat Operational Delivery Incentive (ODI) which include reporting the number of bursts per thousand kilometers of total length of main to maintain customer satisfaction and support. 

The client had been previously unable to assess the full range of criteria in order to identify and measure the poorest performing mains, due to the time and resource requirements caused by a manual approach. WRc data analysis and management capability meant that we were ideally suited to help improve this ODI measure for the client.

The Solution

The goal was to identify the worst performing 50km of mains within a region of the network. Following training and assistance in using WANDa software, works not already addressed were analysed to identify the poorest performing mains in terms of defined burst criteria, and measurement criteria was evaluated to define remaining replacements. WANDa enabled WRc to assess these criteria much more quickly and efficiently than previous methods.

The conclusions were presented via tabular data, shapefiles and GIS plots of each length of main to be promoted for capital works. This stage was achieved in half of the time and at half the cost level it would have taken the mains renewal team to do through Business As Usual methods without the benefit of WANDa.

One of the additional benefits was the ability to analyse the whole of the client distribution network collectively for the first time rather than picking individual control groups. This resulted in an outcome which was ‘best for the water company programmes’ rather than an even spread per region. WANDa was able to separate any superfluous information leaving only the data required to make informed decisions.

The outputs from the project were so successful that our team were immediately requested to produce the AMP 7 year 1 mains renewal program for the worst preforming 350km of mains within the remainder of the client distribution network. Once again this was achieved with substantial savings to the client by delivering the work in less time with less resources.

Reporting with the client in mind

Efficient export of the whole dataset into tabular data in Excel packages which, due to being one of the most accessible software formats for the delivery team, enabled quickly informed decisions.

Providing opportunities for growth

Analyses performed for the client were used to develop the following WANDa software update, allowing for more refined classification of burst output data. This provided a clearer focus and more accurate, prioritised data whilst removing misleading data.

Dedicated support from our team

The secondment of the WRc team provided the expertise and experience to better understand, and provide additional software support for, any challenges faced by the client.

Network Analysis (WANDA) provides Severn Trent with the ability to quickly assess all of its clean water pipe network so that it can accurately examine the historic performance of these assets, their likelihood of future failure and the customer impact of that failure. This again provides powerful information which can be used to shape investment in mains replacement programmes.

Rob Murrell, Network Modelling Manager – Water Infrastructure
Severn Trent Water

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Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019

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