UK Water
Industry
Research

UKWIR currently manages over 50 projects for UK Water companies.  In the current difficult economic and regulatory climate we will be seeking innovative funding solutions,  including cost sharing with other organisations, which enable us to continue meeting our members' requirements,. 

NB Owing to the large number of expressions of interest received, these may not be acknowledged, nor does completion of the form guarantee that the contractor will be invited to tender for the work.

	Alternatives to phosphate for plumbosolvency control
	Objectives Review the economic and technical viability of alternatives methods of plumbosolvency control.

Assessment of Low Flow Components of Night Use and the Water Balance

Objectives The project will investigate the effect of unmeasured and under-registered low flows on night-use allowances in leakage calculation, and also on pcc estimates within the water balance. It will assess the affect on the night use caused by small plumbing losses which would not normally be recorded on a standard meter such as dripping taps, overflowing toilets etc. The research will enable water companies to develop a methodology for differentiating between plumbing losses and supply pipe losses in logged data from individual property monitors and will assess the impact of this on the balance of consumption and leakage in the water balance.

	Barriers to 100% compliance OR is it achievable?
	Objectives a review of the pros and cons of achieving 100% compliance with drinking water standards in the UK. Taking into account value for money, cost benefit, customer perception and regulatory aspirations

	Billing and Operational Services
	Objectives • To identify if we are providing billing services that customers wish for. • To identify if we are providing operational services that customers wish for. • To identify opportunities in current and future technologies. • To collate strengths and weaknesses of different approaches already implemented within the industry. • To learn lessons from other sectors.

	Climate Change and Wastewater Treatment
	Objectives This project aims to transpose the potential effects of climate change into robustly defined impacts on wastewater treatment processes and services, and seeks to design an appropriate response to those impacts for government, the industry, and its regulators.

Climate Change Implications for Water Treatment

Objectives The project aims to assess the impact of climate change on catchment water quality and environmental conditions and the implications that may have for water quality, treatment and treatment processes, optimisation / rationalisation strategies, source protection (quantity and quality) with a view to developing a framework for “no / low regrets”, sustainable asset strategies in the context of developing carbon constraints.

	Condition Assessment and failure prediction for trunk mains
	Objectives A fundamental understanding of the causes of trunk mains failure and a model that allows the likely locations of these to be predicted An effective survey tool to spot likely points of failure

	Determining energy yield from various co-digestable wastes
	Objectives Understanding of the benefits and impacts of co-digestion Optimisation of co-digestion by waste type (generic) Understanding the ‘true costs’ involved in co-digestion to support development of a charging mechanism for the appointed business

	Development of a joint test protocol to determination the flushability of disposable products
	Objectives Production of a protocol to which the water industry nationally and internationally could sign up to would have distinct advantages for the UK Water industry in terms of influencing product research, customer communication and product labelling resulting in a reduction of sewer blockages, flooding and pollution.

	Factors Affecting Background leakage
	Objectives To understand the influence of various physical factors, such as pipe material, pipe age, soil types, pressures, joint types, etc on background leakage levels.

	Impact of vertical separation and competition on the water industry
	Objectives The objectives of the project are to: - identify and quantify the benefits and costs of vertical integration - assess how any adverse impacts might be avoided, e.g. through incentive mechanisms to achieve optimal outcomes.

Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) Directive Revision and the new Industrial Emissions Directive - what are the implications to the Water Industry?

Objectives The broad objective will be quantify the potential impact of these EU Directives on the WI buisness to enable compliance or the content of Directive revisions and transposed regulations to be influenced sufficiently to protect the wider business operating environment. To investigate the regulatiory framework controlling such installations across mainland Europe. To identify differences from the UK position in the interpretation or transposition of the IPPC Directive.

	Leak Detection on Plastic Pipes
	Objectives 1. Assess the effectiveness of current leak detection methods on plastic pipes. 2. Investigate the scope for improved acoustic methods, or new methods based on other non-acoustic principles

	Minimum Serviceability level for transferred Pumping Stations
	Objectives Develop a unified serviceability level of refurbishment.

	Modelling Sludge Opex Efficiency
	Objectives The objective is to contribute to ensuring that efficiency targets set at the 2014 price review are realistic.

	Ofwat serviceability methodologies
	Objectives This project will deliver a robust set of serviceability methodologies, either by validating current methodologies or by developing alternatives.

Performance of sustainable sewage treatment solutions

Objectives • To review what low energy and soft engineered techniques are being used across the UK Water Industry. • To summarise any Company specific work that is already taking place in this area. • To review any available data, but also commission analyses of additional data if required at sample sites across UK. • Observations of current management techniques and commentary on good management practice to be incorporated into the report • To assess carbon footprint of each technique and compare with conventional treatment methods • To influence future water company investment and aid the sustainable treatment debate with Natural England and Environment Agency

Phosphorus contributions from STW discharges to watercourses and their long term environmental impacts relative to other sources

Objectives We would expect the project to provide further clarity on phosphorus cycling along the course of 'typical' rivers taking account of a variety of inputs and discharges, with particular reference to the following areas: 1) Identifying pre-requisites for eutrophication relating to the physical or chemical conditions of the watercourse; 2)Understanding the phosphorus profile along the length of the watercourse taking into account soluble and insoluble inputs and pools or sinks of phosphorus, and whether this can be related to catchment type and activities; 3) Understanding the damaging inputs of soluble phosphorus into watercourses and the levels at which this damage is manifested. Understanding how this relates to the chemical and ecological standards proposed under the WFD, with particular reference to diatoms 4)Understanding how long insoluble phosphorus remains adsorbed to soil particles and how this changes with riverine processes 5) How are soluble and insoluble phosphorus related to seasonality and flow conditions, and whether there is potential for seasonal or flow related P consents 6)Understanding the recovery time for riverine ecology following the reduction in chemical inputs, whether there are distinct stages or trigger levels to be attained and if there are legacy issues associated with phosphorus adsorbed to sediments 7) Literature review of use of diatoms as an indicator of eutrophication and subsequent field tests 8) An initial assessment of the different environmental fates of nutrients in lakes.

	Planning for potential changes in land management practices and policies
	Objectives We are aiming to achive a better understanding of the medium and long-term drivers for change in catchment, land management and farming practices and what this might mean for water resource and water treatment needs.

	Preventing interruptions
	Objectives • Minimise disruption and interruption of supply to customers • Reduce cost of repair and replacement of mains Effectivenes of economics in preventing interruptions Reduce risk of DG 2 and DG3 events and risk to water quality

	Real Time Network Instrumetation phase 2
	Objectives Phase I demonstarated the preacticality of producing low cost sensors and evaluated their power demands and did fundamental work on getting signals out. Phase 2 will seek to develop a practical power generator and wireless comms links

	Reduced Flow Devices: Impact and Use in the Household Sector
	Objectives Look at implications of trickle flow e.g. public health, to determine if a feasible option and if so provide guidance on regulatory and legal implications of trickle flow and deliver proposals to amend the 1999 Water Act with a view to implement. Look at the options for tools and devices to manage flow. Determine cost benefits and practical implications of using trickle flow devices.

Research collaboration in the UK water industry

Objectives To inform the development a collaborative innovation strategy for the UK water sector by developing our understanding of successful collaboration in competitive environments in other sectors and in conjunction with related ongoing research (e.g. RG07). To replace the current adversarial culture amongst some UK water industry stakeholders with a united and holistic understanding of a collaborative research and innovation process.

	Reviewing efficiency incentives and targets
	Objectives Identify and evaluate potential alternatives to how Ofwat determines the opex to be included in its price determinations.

Sewer Misconnections - What is the true non-agricultural diffused water pollution impact?

Objectives To understand the real extent of misconnections, nationally and for each water company: o Problems caused o Impact Cost o Most effective means of remediation and prevention. To understand the impact misconnections have in achieving national and local WFD, rBWD and SWD objectives. To understand which approach will proved the best long term cost & environmental benefits: o Modelling, monitoring and targeting of misconnections? o Customer communication? o Target other sources of NADWP? To develop legal arguments to support changes in legislations; to enable Sewerage Undertakers to control sewer inputs Provide supporting information for any regulatory impact assessment.

	The common framework and justifing investment in short life and IT assets from deteroration to benefits.
	Objectives Methodogies to help companies justfiy investment in IT assets. To work with IT suppliers in particularly on how the common framework can be applied to IT assets. This would include cost benefit approaches and service risks.

The PR14 asset inventory a simplified alternative approach

Objectives To develop an alternative, simple but reliable methodology for the completion of the asset inventory table. To develop an alternative, simple but reliable methodology for a consistent approach to completing the asset inventory table which is capable of regular updating from company business systems. To provide recommendations for improving current process. To ensure that the revised Asset Inventory approach aligns with current accounting standards and with any proposed revisions to them. To ensure that the completed tables fully reflect the Company's understanding of the state of its asset base and is capable of validation through audit.

Understanding the implications of cold weather on nitrification treatment processes and final effluent compliance

Objectives This project would be divided into four specific areas, a) Literature survey- to detail the experiences in other colder countries to understand which treatment processes are used to treat effluent during the coldest winters, the treatment standards achieved, the consent conditions and exemptions permitted, and any other factors. Review to include the WRC temperature studies work. b) Co-ordination of data- this element to compare the final effluent and temperature results from UK water companies throughout the cold weather experienced earlier in 2009. This would correlate treatment performance (particularly nitrification), final effluent temperature and treatment type. Use of un-ionised ammonia information to be included in this study. c) An assessment of an appropriate “recovery time” after a period of extreme low temperatures to be made d) A field trial- throughout the winter a field trial would be set up to monitor the difference between a covered and an uncovered filter bed to determine whether there is any appreciable difference in final effluent temperature and treatment performance. Part of this trial could also look at the costs associated with covering treatment processes and the risks into the future of prolonged cold winters which might compromise biological activity. Suggest trial acts as a phase 2 if preliminary data indicates it is worthwhile.

Uses for CO2 in bio-gas produced from anaerobic digestion

Objectives • to identify methods of capturing carbon dioxide release from WwTW • to identify alternative methods of separating out the carbon dioxide in bio-gas • to identify alternative uses for carbon dioxide • to understand how much the Water Industry can reduce its carbon footprint by better management of carbon dioxide What do we want to know? The most cost effective way of capturing and utilising carbon dioxide from wastewater treatment and bio-gas and associated benefits.

Wet Weather Definition and Impact on Planning and Regulatory Reporting

Objectives Methodology and guidance on assessment of rainfall patterns are making claims for unusual rainfall for assessment of flow and spills compliance. Identify and review the methods of spill determination deployed by the Water Sector. Identify and review the issues that affect the value of that data when determining potential environmental impact. Review potential changes to Met Office definition of a 1 in 5 year event and how it may link to spill analysis and modelling. Derive clear guidelines that are agreed with EA regarding spill analysis to ensure future national consistency is applied.

WFD - Heavily Modified Water Bodies (HMWB)

Objectives • Meeting GEP in a cost effective, sustainable manner • A shared understanding of the relationships between ecology and the anthropogenic pressures caused by HMWB/AWB’s controlled by water companies • A better understanding of the costs & benefits and technical feasibility of mitigation measures that may support Good Ecological Potential (GEP) • Collating existing data and using gap analysis to design more focussed field trial pilots • Derive best practice from existing trials • A guide to enable formulation of action programmes for individual sites without the need to undertake many site specific detailed investigations/trials • A generic toolbox to make site specific impact assessments, identifying appropriate mitigation measures and their feasibility, that feeds into, cross sector, cost benefit analysis