Our Research

All UKWIR projects are available below and by default are ordered by date commenced descending (most recent first). Various search options are available via the side-bar.

Should you wish to see a list of all research projects completed under a particular research topic (e.g. Drinking Water), then please go to our Research Topic Catalogues via this button. They will provide you with a full list of projects completed for that research topic and a short summary of each project. Just select the topic that is of interest.

Topic Catalogues

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Reference
Aiming To Achieve

 

Project Status:

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Available Projects: 45

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Project Status
Project Commenced

UKWIR Reference
WR1248

Big Question / Topic
BQ01 Halving abstractions
Water Resources

Read Report/s & Resume/s  

Assessing the costs and benefits of nonessential use Drought orders – feasibility study

The overall outcome of the project will be to confirm whether or not it is possible at the current time, with the data and information we have available, to undertake further work into quantifying the ‘costs’ in terms of impact to customers, and ‘benefits’ in terms of potential reductions in demand, of NEUB implementation. Should the research conclude this is not currently feasible, the project will make recommendations on improvements required in order for the industry to ensure it is collating the required information to undertake this assessment in the future.



Project Status
Project Commenced

UKWIR Reference
SW1229

Big Question / Topic
BQ06 Sewerage
Sewerage

Read Report/s & Resume/s  

BQ06 - Understanding the possibilities of new approaches and standards from a data rich sewer network

Our primary objective is to understand what role new statistical models (based on the new live network data) have in the future vs more traditional deterministic models (hydraulic models).

Key questions to answer with the research:
•    What is the art of the possible now and in the future?
•    How could we do things differently and what are the benefits to change?
•    What new standards are needed so we adopt these new approaches?



Project Status
Project Commenced

UKWIR Reference
WM1238

Big Question / Topic
BQ03 Zero Interruptions
Water Mains & Services & Leakage

Read Report/s & Resume/s  

BQ03-B04 Optimising and balancing short-term operational interventions with long-term capital maintenance to improve water supply interruptions

The aim of the project is to develop a framework and/or suite of supporting tools for optimisation of interventions to achieve water supply interruption resilience over a 10-25 year planning horizon.

The project will investigate effective planning methods to optimise short and long-term interventions based on industry-best practice and establish the relative benefits of these interventions.

Including the benefits of operational interventions, such as:

  • Alternative supply vehicles (response)
  • PMV maintenance (proactive/control)
  • Pressure optimisation (proactive/control)
  • Event management systems and processes (including sensors)

Longer-term capital maintenance interventions, such as:

  • DMA level mains renewal and replacement
  • Trunk main renewal and replacement
  • Novel lining approaches (link to BQ02/03 RPS workshop)


Project Status
Project Commenced

UKWIR Reference
WW1268

Big Question / Topic
BQ05 Wastewater
Wastewater Treatment & Sewerage

Read Report/s & Resume/s  

Efficacy of Novel Disinfection Processes for Wastewater Treatment

What do we want to achieve through this research?

A study of the efficacy of novel disinfection treatment processes (PFA and Ozone as a minimum) to inform suitable permitting conditions.

  • Confirmation of the mechanism by which the processes achieve disinfection, focusing on its interaction with microbial cell structures and metabolic pathways.
  • The identification of suitable surrogates that would emulate the behaviour of target pathogens during disinfection treatment for alternative technologies.
  • An understanding of the dose / response relationship and what ‘CT value’ is required to ensure effective pathogen inactivation at a level to meet likely environmental regulators needs. This should include an understanding of how variables in wastewater characteristics such organic matter content, pH and temperature would influence the dose / response relationship and pathogen inactivation rates.
  • An understanding of the ecotoxicity and quantity of any disinfection by-products produced during treatment.
  • Consultation with the environmental regulators and other key stakeholders at every stage of the study process to deliver a final report that addresses the concerns these stakeholders have about alternatives to UV disinfection.
  • Enable the environmental regulators to issue validated dose guidance for alternative technologies that will inform plant design and permitting arrangements.


Project Status
Project Commenced

UKWIR Reference
EQ01

Big Question / Topic
Environmental Benefits

Read Report/s & Resume/s  

CIP 4 Groundwater, Soil and Biosolids Investigation

The aim of this investigation is to understand if biosolids spreading on agricultural land impacts soil and groundwater quality, including possible implications for human health and the environment.