How do we achieve zero interruptions to water supplies by 2050?

Big question

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How do we achieve zero interruptions to water supplies by 2050?

We are currently working on the approach to answering this Big Question, and more information will be given here soon.

Once we understand where the gaps are, we will produce a route map – this is a plan as to how we will answer our Big Question.

The route map will have a number of key elements. At the top will be our Big Question and then we will look to see what Outcomes we need from the research programme -if we can achieve all these outcomes we can answer the Big Question. This is the stage we are currently at for this Big Question.

The next stage will be to think about the key benefits we want the research projects to deliver to meet these outcomes.

Following this, we will plan the research projects to help deliver the benefits.

RESEARCH Outcomes

All work carried out the assets will not increase interruptions risk

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key benefits

Control the activities of third party that can impact our assets

Maintain supplies whilst carrying out operational & maintenance tasks

Operate & maintain our assets without increasing interruptions risk

Predict and prevent pressure transients that occur on our network

Systems (e.g. group of assets) designed to accommodate the full range of demand scenarios & outages

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key benefits

We have systems that can deal with the full range of demand scenarios

We can confidently identify assets that pose an increasing interruption risk to initiate a timely response

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key benefits

Improved knowledge of how critical assets deteriorate

Improved knowledge of why critical assets fails

Monitor critical assets reliably and economically

Understand condition of critical assets (now and into the future)

Understand consequence of the failure of critical assets

We can confidently predict the onset of asset failure to allow delivery of short-term preventative mitigation

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key benefits

Ability to promote proactive measures to maintain supplies

Interpret real-time data and promote preventative mitigation

Receiving real-time data from assets warning of failure

All water supplies are restored quickly after asset failure

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key benefits

Provide alternative supplies, if necessary

Repair assets quickly after failure (e.g. internally using robotic equipment

Restore supplies before repair (e.g. smart valve, integrated grid etc)

Understand connectivity of customers to assets (i.e. which valves to operate)

All new assets are problem free when installed, and remain so throughout its economic life

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key benefits

All new materials have been suitably tested by a third party

Assets manufactured & designed for inspection, operation & mitigation

Better tools and techniques, QA and staff training to prevent fail

Improved specifications for new networks

We design our assets for zero interruptions (e.g joint free networks)

Outcome coming soon

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key benefits

Addressing Big Questions achieves Outcomes, which in turn generates Benefits to the water industry.

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Projects

Scoping Study – Understanding Asset Risk (BQ8)

Project Status - Expressions of Interest

Projects coming soon.

Big question

Go Back To All Big Questions