Maintenance

Transferring minimal excavation methods to the water industry

Reference: 22/WM/12/1
ISBN: 978-1-84057-949-9
Published Date: 30/06/2022

This report provides a comprehensive review of current and developing technologies for minimal excavation which have the potential to enable the water industry to undertake leak repairs and the associated excavation activities, safely and efficiently. Technologies were identified through global literature reviews, interviews with subject matter experts and contact with relevant companies. A workshop attended by practitioners, technology providers and water companies, provided clarity over the critical issues that need to be resolved to enable these technologies to be widely adopted in the water industry. To encourage the transfer of the identified technology a functional specification is presented which defines the requirements for the application of this technology. A route map to enable the implementation by the water industry is also presented, including a suit of core project areas that will address the key challenges to technology implementation

Appendix 1 – Literature review

Reference: 14/WM/12/33
ISBN: 1 84057 734 7
Published Date: 21/08/2014

Water companies are coming under increasing pressure to ensure that interruptions to water supplies are prevented or minimised as far as possible. This has resulted in increasing use of 'no disruption' repair techniques for leaks and bursts. This research project undertook a technical appraisal of water company experience of pipeline repair using a range of techniques, covering traditional ('disruptive') and 'no disruption' repair, with the aim of assessing the impact of the method selected on short and long-term network performance and on the consequent service to customers.

The Contractor, CH2M HILL, has analysed the data from a number of water companies within the United Kingdom to assess the impact of different network repair technologies on subsequent performance of the water distribution network. A Decision Support Tool was developed to enable water companies to select the best technique to use in various circumstances.

Appendix 2 – Questionnaire (Water Industry consultation)

Reference: 14/WM/12/33
ISBN: 1 84057 734 7
Published Date: 21/08/2014

Water companies are coming under increasing pressure to ensure that interruptions to water supplies are prevented or minimised as far as possible. This has resulted in increasing use of 'no disruption' repair techniques for leaks and bursts. This research project undertook a technical appraisal of water company experience of pipeline repair using a range of techniques, covering traditional ('disruptive') and 'no disruption' repair, with the aim of assessing the impact of the method selected on short and long-term network performance and on the consequent service to customers.

The Contractor, CH2M HILL, has analysed the data from a number of water companies within the United Kingdom to assess the impact of different network repair technologies on subsequent performance of the water distribution network. A Decision Support Tool was developed to enable water companies to select the best technique to use in various circumstances.