WRc Portfolio Collection 2024

Welcome to WRc’s 2024

Portfolio Collection

We are delighted to introduce a range of new and exciting Portfolio projects for 2024, including our ever-popular User Groups and Forums.

This Portfolio Collection covers a diverse choice of innovative new projects, including CIPP liners, flow regulators, MCERTS, prestressed concrete pipes and PFAS. The Disinfection Forum, Odour Management User Group and Instrument User Group return for another year, with several water companies already signed up to join them.

If you would like the opportunity to collaborate on any of these projects with your water industry peers, please email portfolio@wrcgroup.com for more information.

Andy Blackhall Managing Director

P.S. Over the course of the year, we will be testing the appetite for new and innovative Portfolio ideas via our interactive Portfolio Ideas Market Test. If you are interested in joining the mailing list for this, please send your sign-up request to portfolio@wrcgroup.com

What is WRc Portfolio and how does it work?

Portfolio is our collaborative research programme. It allows companies to jointly fund research focused on specific needs in the industry. It has been running for over 20 years, with project ideas being proposed by experts within WRc, based on contact with our clients across the water and waste industries.

WRc Portfolio epitomises our unique position as innovation leaders in the water, waste and environmental industries, delivering innovation through collaboration and technical excellence.

The programme delivers research focused on shared needs that relate to specific problems and issues faced by our clients on a daily basis. These concerns can relate to operational problems, regulatory issues or preparation for future challenges. They are identified and developed through open consultation and feedback and are delivered in co-operation with client groups.

Our Portfolio process is dynamic and flexible, which is one of the reasons it’s been running successfully for over 20 years. The Portfolio programme is really quite special - projects can range in size from £30k to £1M+, from three months to three years in length - but the ethos of sharing insight, working together and moving the industry forward is common across every single one.

New projects for 2024

In this issue of the Portfolio Collection, we have several new projects to introduce you to. These projects are either about to launch or ready for you to join today:

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CP648: Sewer Network Pumping Systems Design Manual

Business Benefits

Implementation of the manual in the design of new and upgraded pumping stations will result in:

• more resilient pumping systems resulting in fewer unauthorised discharges to the environment, greatly reducing the risk of prosecution

• more efficient pumping systems, reducing energy usage and operational carbon

• reduced use of chemicals to control septicity

• reduced whole-life costs with a better balance between capital and maintenance.

WRc brings unparalleled experience, advice, solutions and worldclass research legacy to answer the challenges of today’s sewer network systems. This Portfolio project will be led by Peter Henley, a recognised industry professional in wastewater infrastructure.

Peter has worked for many years on sewer operational best practice guides, and leads delivery of technical training in sewer condition classification, drain investigation and drain repair - both in the UK and internationally.

Duration: 12 months

Price: £25,950 (excl. VAT)

WRc contact: Peter Henley

Phone: +44 (0) 1793 865 000

Email: peter.henley@wrcgroup.com

The Need

Although wastewater network pumping systems are a small part of the sewer network, they have a disproportionate impact on the management of a sewer system in terms of maintenance costs, energy use and numbers of failures. The environmental impact of failures is also high, with disproportionate numbers of them leading to pollution and prosecution.

In 2006, WRc produced a rising mains manual, which is the basis for design standards at a number of water and sewerage companies. It is now recognised that the management of rising mains cannot be separated from the management of the pumping station. In addition, a number of external factors now have to be considered in the design and operation of pumping systems, including increased cost of energy and the chemicals to manage septicity, a reduction of public tolerance of wastewater discharges into the natural environment and the need to achieve net-zero carbon targets. Any successor to the first manual, must, therefore, cover the design of the whole pumping system.

The Solution

This Portfolio project’s aim is to develop then publish a ground-breaking new manual for the complete planning and design of wastewater network pumping systems, with the objective to:

• investigate best practice in the design of wastewater network pumping systems in order to reduce energy consumption, minimise the use of chemicals that control septicity and the use of embedded carbon, while balancing resilience and whole life costs

• develop a framework for economic appraisal of options, which will be included to ensure that the whole life costs are balanced with the environmental and other less tangible benefits of improved design

• incorporate these findings into a manual for the planning and design of wastewater network pumping systems. The scope of the manual will include the design of new pumping systems, operations and maintenance as well as upgrading of existing systems.

CP654: Guidance for developer services impact assessments

Business Benefits

This project will provide participants with:

• a standard approach to assessing stakeholder requests for connections, leading to fewer stakeholder challenges and disputes

• water industry network modellers, developer services staff and consultants using the same assessment methodology across the UK

• a forum for discussions amongst likeminded industry professionals.

WRc brings to this project a long-established and thorough appreciation of network modelling, which includes developer impact assessments, technical design guidelines and methodologies on network modelling and general water engineering for water companies worldwide.

This Portfolio project will be of interest to water company developer services teams and network modelling teams who support developer services.

Duration: 6 months

Price: £9,800 (excl. VAT)

WRc contact: Joanne Hulance

Phone: +44 (0) 1793 865 000

Email: jo.hulance@wrcgroup.com

The Need

Any new development site will require water services, including connection to the existing supply network and provision of the necessary infrastructure. To fulfil developer water supply connection requests, water companies assess the impacts of the new connections using their tried and tested methods and assessment procedures. However, there are several challenges within these procedures that would benefit from expert collaboration, including, for example, how water companies should challenge often-over-estimated flow requests.

WRc’s analysis shows there is a need for a standard approach to the impact assessment of developer requests that encompasses all the various facets of demand, network hydraulics, resilience, regulation and growth plans. These requests include:

• Understanding the most effective approach to dealing with council growth strategies and plans. For example, what timing should be considered and how development should be phased?

• Estimation approaches for commercial demand assessments, such as how water companies should challenge the often overestimated flow that is requested. Should the industry have a standard water usage per hectare for each industry type?

• How are bulk supplies to New Appointment and Variation companies (NAVs) assessed?

• Appropriate assessment of fire flow requirements for both direct and indirect supplies.

• What are the limits for parameters, such as pressure, which trigger network reinforcement, and to what performance level should the network be restored?

The Solution

A standard approach to responding to developer requests, which includes a transparent, step-by-step process. Having a standard approach designed by industry specialists will assist companies to provide a consistent response to developer requests and ensure no detriment to network performance now and in the future.

The project will be focussed on the following broad topic areas:

• People: including the roles and responsibilities of developer services, network modelling personnel and planning department staff, and how they should collaborate through the application process.

• Process: including modelling the impact of the development, assessment criteria, decision making and reporting.

• Parameters: technical details about the impact assessment, including model set-up, demand scenarios and parameter limits.

CP655: Infiltration testing of CIPP liners

Business Benefits

Water company participants will:

• have greater confidence in the deliverability of AMP8 programmes through early access to a range of Cured-in-Place Pipe (CIPP) liner products, tested to ensure they meet their needs for infiltration prevention works during AMP8

• be able to use the WIS to specify requirements for leak tightness complementary to BS EN ISO 114 for CIPP liners in accordance with BS EN ISO 11296-1 §8.2.

Supplier participants will be able to:

• engage with water companies to understand their requirements more fully and to demonstrate the capability of their CIPP liner products to the water company participants, potentially giving them early access to this growing market

• have their product(s) tested in accordance with the agreed test method, and if successful will be issued with test certificate(s) by WRc Ltd.

We deliver a rich understanding of leak tightness and CIPP liners to the industry, including a multiclient research project (CP308: 2006–2008) investigating the infiltration resistance of a number of CIPP liner systems on the market at that time.

WRc also leads the development of structural sewerage risk management, a project supported by most of the English and Welsh water and sewerage companies, Scottish Water and Northern Ireland Water.

Duration: 13 months

Price:

£15,500

Water and Sewerage companies

£14,150

CIPP supplier/manufacturer

WRc contact: Denise Bennett

Phone: +44 (0) 1793 865 000

Email: denise.bennett@wrcgroup.com

The Need

Water companies in the UK are under pressure to reduce discharges from sewer overflows. One of the major causes of discharge from these overflows is groundwater infiltration into the sewer systems. Water companies are, therefore, planning a major increase in renovation of sewers to reduce infiltration during AMP8.

However, previous experience of undertaking such works found some CIPP products did not provide adequate resistance to groundwater infiltration. Further work is required to develop the test methods used to the stage when they can be formalised into a Water Industry Specification (WIS).

The Solution

The principal output from this collaborative Portfolio project will be an agreed Water Industry Specification (WIS) for leak tightness testing of CIPP liners. This will become a complementary specification to BS EN ISO 11296-4 and will form the agreed leak tightness requirement in accordance with BS EN ISO 11296-1:2018, §8.2 for UK water company customers.

CIPP suppliers and manufacturers taking part in this exciting project will be able to engage with water companies via steering group meetings to understand water company requirements more fully and to demonstrate the capability of their CIPP liner products to the water company participants, potentially giving them early access to this growing market. Manufacturers will also be able to have product(s) tested in accordance with the agreed test method as part of the project and, if successful, be issued with test certificate(s) by WRc Ltd.

CP658: Preventing blockages at manhole chambers

Business Benefits

Improved understanding and design of inspection chambers could:

• reduce the number of future sewer blockages on new developments

This would lead to:

• reduced inconvenience and potential flooding to customers

• improved performance of the sewer network

• reduced future maintenance costs for water companies.

Both independent and solution orientated, WRc can gather input from a number of sources and provide a professional outcome.

This Portfolio project will be led by Peter Henley, a recognised industry professional in wastewater infrastructure. Peter has worked for many years on sewer operational best practice guides, and leads delivery of technical training in sewer condition classification, drain investigation and drain repair - both in the UK and internationally.

Duration: 6 months

Price: £25,000 (excl. VAT)

WRc contact: Peter Henley

Phone: +44 (0) 1793 865 000

Email: peter.henley@wrcgroup.com

The Need

Work carried out by WRc has identified that over half of all sewer blockages attended by water companies are in sewers with less than 10 connected properties. Work carried out by the Building Research Establishment (BRE) in the 1970s identified poor detailing of inspection chambers as a major cause of blockages of sewers of this size.

Prefabricated inspection chambers are now widely used on small-diameter sewers near to properties. These often have up to five incoming connection points, of which only two or three are typically used. It is knownanecdotally from discussion with UK water companies - that blockages often occur close to properties in transferred drains and new sewers in these types of inspection chambers. This is caused by sewer debris catching on the benching and becoming stranded in unused channels within the chamber.

However, it is not clear whether a change in the design of these chambers is required, or whether better guidance is required on selecting and installing the correct product.

The Solution

This project will review data from sites where repeated blockages occur in prefabricated inspection chambers. It will use WRc’s blockage test rig to investigate the causes in more detail and will identify simple, low-cost methods to mitigate against the problem of sewer blockages at these locations.

WRc proposes working in close collaboration with the water companies’ developer services and operational teams. In addition, we will work with the UK’s main manufacturers of these preformed chambers to develop solutions to this problem and reduce the impact of it on water company customers.

Depending on the outcome of this research, the findings could be implemented through improved standards or changes to adoption guidance.

CP660: Remote Sensing & Leakage

Business Benefits

The output of this Portfolio project will:

• provide a comprehensive overview of the feasibility of using open-source satellite data to enhance leakage detection activities within water companies

• provide findings that will allow water companies to develop their own leakage detection capabilities

• provide findings to improve the efficiency and reduce costs of leak detection.

WRc has a long history of supporting water companies with new technology adoption via the delivery of independent testing, technology evaluations and final selection and use of appropriate novel technologies.

Previous examples of water efficiency projects include everything from network water quality monitors through to pipeline leakage detection and repair technologies.

Duration: 4 months

Price: £4,500 (excl. VAT)

WRc contact: Justine Leadbetter

Phone: +44 (0) 1793 865 000

Email: justine.leadbetter@wrcgroup.com

The Need

According to Ofwat’s Discover Water statistics, approximately 20 per cent of the water flowing through pipes is lost through leakage in the UK. Combined with the increasingly obvious impacts of climate change, water resources are becoming progressively vulnerable. In response, the UK’s water companies have made a Public Interest Commitment (PIC) to triple the rate of sector-wide leakage reduction by 2030. Additionally, the water sector has taken up the National Infrastructure Commission’s (NIC) challenge to half leakage by 2050 - based on 2018 levels.

In response to these challenges, significant innovation has occurred in leakage detection, focusing on improving the speed and efficiency of leak location. Various innovative techniques have been tested, including open-source remote sensing technology. This enables hassle- and cost-free data collection and opens the possibility of large-scale analysis of physical characteristics of an area, such as development of soil moisture and vegetation indices, which can be used as indicators of leakage. However, remote sensing is often offered as part of a Software as a Service package, representing a significant cost to users.

Several free data sources, such as Landsat, Quickbird, and MODIS, offer not only optical imagery but also other types of data like thermal infrared, radar, or lidar data. To date, a wideranging review of the deployment and accuracy of these UK-based, open source remote sensing technologies has not yet been carried out.

The Solution

WRc proposes to carry out a literature review that focuses on leak detection techniques that make use of this open-source remote sensing data. The objective of this review is to understand whether remote sensing data is available at the necessary frequency, granularity and resolution for analysis to be undertaken to allow these sources to be employed by UK water companies to aid in leakage detection independently. The review will also assess the potential methods that could be used for the available data and accuracies that could be achieved. This will enhance the understanding of the spectrum of leak detection techniques available to water utilities, identify ones most suitable for the UK, representing an opportunity to enhance current detection activities and reduce costs of SaaS packages.

This Portfolio project will provide a comprehensive overview of the feasibility of using open-source satellite data to enhance leakage detection activities within water companies.

Business Benefits

This project will provide water companies with evidence to support:

• reduction of water consumption (potentially up to 30 litres/person/ day), improved efficiency and increased cost savings using flow regulators (FRs) around PCC reduction

• achievement of a positive customer engagement strategy that drives the highest voluntary acceptance whilst limiting the risk of unhappy customers

• reduction of installation complications (if applicable)

• identification of effective customer engagement mechanisms to drive voluntary acceptance of FR installations

• understanding the impact of FRs on converting occupied void properties into live accounts

• identification of the best flow restrictor limits to balance water savings and customer satisfaction.

For many years, WRc has been a key player in the drive towards global water efficiency. We have a long history of delivering water innovation and efficiency insight through research, development, analysis and review on behalf of the UK and overseas governments, utilities, regulators and industry.

We support water efficiency policy development and implementation, catchment management and water abstraction reduction, working with water companies, the housing development industry and bathroom manufacturing industries.

Duration: 6 months

Price: £19,524 (excl. VAT)

WRc contact: James Lees

Phone: +44 (0) 1793 865 000

Email: james.lees@wrcgroup.com

The Need

Water efficiency is increasingly critical in response to climate change. In the UK, water companies are looking to reduce overall water demand in line with the government’s 25-year Environmental Plan to support the goal of ‘Clean and Plentiful Water’. Water efficiency and smart metering is also becoming increasingly critical in helping customers to understand and reduce per capita consumption (PCC), as well as helping companies to identify which customers require engaging with to support their journey in reducing water consumption. Several water companies have already conducted pilot studies to assess the impact of flow regulators (FRs) on PCC. While these trials have shown promise, we believe there are additional dimensions to explore to optimise the effectiveness of FRs, especially around customer perception and experience.

This project aligns with governmental and industry goals to reduce per capita consumption and provide new tools for delivery to enable water companies to meet the stringent targets set within the Environment Act 2021 for England.

The Solution

The aim of this project is to introduce proactive steps to promote reductions in household and non-household consumption through an innovative approach utilising FRs. The project will address challenges and opportunities in implementing the widespread adoption of FRs, focusing on water savings, customer acceptance, maintenance requirements, void property management and any impact on customer satisfaction.

WRc will work with participating companies to install flow regulators across a range of property types with varied water pressures, including detached and terraced properties, flats, caravans, other holiday parks, vacant properties and new builds. We will look at the impact of varying flow restrictors on installation/ deinstallation, water consumption and customer experience, with the aim of fully understanding the opportunities these devices can offer water companies. By deploying FRs at scale across multiple water companies, we will aim to provide compelling evidence to support the potential inclusion of these interventions as standard practice.

Business Benefits

This Portfolio project will enable water companies to:

• improve pro-active assessment and management of the risk of septicity and corrosion in sewer networks under current and anticipated future challenges

• identify cost-effective, efficient and reliable mitigation measures for a range of septicity and corrosion scenarios, with the aim of avoiding unnecessary asset replacement

• apply project outcomes that will offer the potential to reduce infrastructure failures resulting from septicity and corrosion and any associated risk of unsatisfactory intermittent discharges (UIDs) arising from such failures.

WRc has long-established experience of running user groups on odour management themes, including the Odour Management User Groupformed in 2017.

WRc offers a wide range of services to assist water companies’ odour management challenges, including technical evaluation, regulation/ compliance and odour risk reduction.

Duration: 12 months

Price: £26,000 (excl. VAT)

WRc contact: Kevin Poole

Phone: +44 (0) 1793 865 000

Email: kevin.poole@wrcgroup.com

The Need

The deterioration and ultimately the collapse of gravity sewers, and other structures, from hydrogen sulphide (H2S) attack results in high expense and complicated logistics for replacing pipes, plus a risk of unsatisfactory intermittent discharges (UIDs) occurring.

Septicity develops within rising mains when bacteria in biofilms convert sulphate in wastewater to dissolved sulphide under anaerobic conditions. When wastewater containing dissolved sulphide discharges from the rising main into a gravity sewer, wastewater treatment works (WwTW), etc., H2S is emitted into the sewer air. The H2S is oxidized to sulphuric acid by bacteria on surfaces above the waterline, which causes the corrosion of concrete or steel. The presence of H2S is also a potential health and safety risk to staff working on sewer networks and can cause complaints and unwanted contacts from odour emissions. A range of options are available for managing septicity and corrosion, but the most cost-effective solution will vary depending on the situation.

The Solution

WRc will work with water companies to develop best practice and to deliver a water industry code of practice for managing septicity and corrosion in sewer networks. The project will build on previous WRc collaborative work with water companies on septicity in rising mains and corrosion in gravity sewers (WRc Portfolio Project CP408, 2011), and will include technical presentation and discussions from WRc’s Rising Main Workshop (2023) and Odour Management User Group (2017 onwards).

It will consider potential effects on septicity and corrosion from climate change (e.g. hotter drier summers; wetter, warmer winters; and rising sea levels), trade effluent and measures to reduce CSO discharges (e.g. diverting surface water from combined systems and transferring greater flows of wastewater). The latest scientific literature will be reviewed and discussions will be held with water companies, academics and technology providers to establish current knowhow and best practice to manage septicity and corrosion.

Business Benefits

The project will:

• enable informed selection of appropriate water quality monitors based on real life performance data, with direct comparison between different technology options and suppliers, and cost of ownership information

• provide evidence to support maintenance approaches and deviation from any requirement

• increase competition in the supply chain, resulting in improved products and services

• increase knowledge of the performance of innovative technology.

WRc has highly respected knowledge of the use of water quality instrumentation within the water sector. We are trusted by a broad range of stakeholders to deliver comprehensive, fair and robust technology trials, including a wide range of instrumentation trials carried out over the past 20 years which have informed selection and furthered the development of new and improved technologies. Examples include ammonia and nitrate monitors for wastewater process control, wastewater dissolved oxygen probes, and ammonia, phosphate and suspended solid monitors for sewage final effluent.

Duration: 11 months

Price: TBC

WRc contact: Dr Leo Carswell

Phone:

+44 (0) 1793 865 000

Email: leo.carswell@wrcgroup.com

The Need

Section 82 of the Environment Act (2021) sets in place the requirement for water companies to monitor the quality of water that is potentially affected by discharges. It specifically refers to continuous monitoring of temperature, pH, turbidity and ammonia upstream and downstream of storm overflows and sewage disposal works. The scale of the requirement is huge, and the associated costs and future maintenance challenges are unprecedented in the UK.

It looks unlikely that the regulator will mandate supplier certification against a set of performance requirements. As a result, the risk will be placed on water companies in terms of equipment selection and operation to meet the requirements. This does not just place the risk of selecting the right equipment to meet the desired performance criteria on the water company, but it also does not allow for any validation of novel measurement techniques that might provide a better totex solution.

The Solution

A large scale, independently run and scientifically robust technology monitoring trial is proposed. It will be run at a single site over two, three-month phases to fully understand and define instrument performance, impact of maintenance and costs. Up to 20 monitors will be included, with regular performance checks using best practice methods.

Equipment suppliers will engage through freeof-charge instrumentation loans. The work will be managed and lead by WRc, with the assistance of Servitech International providing at-site technical trial support.

The work will follow the proven approach that delivered trials on ammonia and nitrate ISE probes (CP526) and dissolved oxygen monitors (CP477). Funding water companies will receive the full report and be involved in making decisions as part of the work, including selection of the equipment to trial. Suppliers will receive the results of their own equipment. Results will not be made available to companies who do not take part.

Business Benefits

This water planning framework project will provide:

• planning best practice for UK water companies, from setting strategy and assessing risk to agreeing and delivering plans

• tools and guidance for how to best engage stakeholders in relevant plans, and how to manage the change of developing and implementing new plans

• an analysis of UK water sectorspecific planning requirements that identifies opportunities to optimise processes and foster collaboration

• a set of tools and templates to allow self-assessment against the framework.

Our Management Consultancy team has a thorough appreciation and insight of process, people, systems and data, and how they work together in the overall context of a business. Our expertise in this area can unlock opportunities to enhance performance for water companies.

As a trusted partner, WRc has been commissioned by regulated companies and their regulators to provide independent advice and guidance and be a ‘critical friend’ when needed to drive legislative, regulatory or operational improvements.

Duration: 6–8 months

Price: £9,500 (excl. VAT)

WRc contact: Christopher Bell

Phone: +44 (0) 1793 865 000

Email: christopher.bell@wrcgroup.com

The Need

Businesses need to produce the best plans possible in order to deliver the best value for themselves and their customers, whilst regulatory obligations require water companies, in particular, to produce a number of specific plans at regular intervals. The resulting planning processes that develop are often disjointed and inefficient.

Furthermore, Defra has recently developed an ambitious Plan for Water in England, aiming to transform the management of the water system, which specifically includes integrated planning. The release of Defra’s plan has provided a perfect opportunity for UK water companies to review and optimise the integration of their current planning processes.

It is noted, however, that there is currently no clear guidance on what level of integration is expected and how to achieve this. Additionally, there is currently no clear method to assess a water company’s existing planning processes and identify inefficiencies and areas of improvement.

The Solution

WRc proposes the development of a Water Planning Framework to fill this gap. This framework will provide a best-practice model of the entire planning process, specifically tailored to the UK water sector. This will include elements such as planning strategy, data flow/management, risk identification and management, key stakeholder engagement, plan alignment and delivery and change management during plan implementation.

Application of the Water Planning Framework will facilitate better co-ordination across departments, streamline processes, enhance communication, reduce reporting duplication and ultimately drive better decision-making and overall business performance through integrated planning efforts.

WRc will also create self-assessment tools along with the framework. This will enable UK water companies to evaluate current planning maturity and identify areas for improvement, to achieve a more cohesive and effective planning approach (which will cut operational costs), to increase output quality and to help to meet and report against regulatory requirements.

An example of some of the high-level process steps that will be covered by the framework. Set planning strategy Manage data Manage risk Engage stakeholders Agree and deliver plans Manage change

Business Benefits

This code of practice will provide participants with the necessary guidance and support to:

• evaluate techniques in risk assessment, monitoring, inspection and remediation of prestressed concrete pipes (PCPs) in the UK and worldwide

• understand current practice across UK water companies and to learn from each other within Project Steering Group meetings

• produce a code of practice for use across the UK and Irish water industry, including a risk assessment procedure

• understand the market in monitoring, inspection, repair and remediation companies in the UK and other countries.

We have experience assessing pipework on site, as part of distribution and trunk main systems, as well as testing on individual pipe sections at our facilities in Swindon.

Specific related projects include:

• Updating the Civil Engineering Specification for the Water Industry (CESWI)

• Service Reservoir Capacity Design Guidance, a Portfolio project for UK water company clients

• Design Guidance for Potable Water Assets (confidential client)

Duration: 6 months

Price: £11,150 (excl. VAT)

WRc contact: Richard Foster

Phone: +44 (0) 1793 865 000

Email: richard.foster@wrcgroup.com

The Need

Prestressed concrete pipes in the UK and Ireland are often critical, strategic mains that supply large populations. It is difficult to assess their condition and repair, therefore they pose a high risk to security of water supply.

These specialised pipes have been laid by water companies in the UK and Ireland for strategic mains in the trunk mains network, often as part of the critical supply to major cities and conurbations. Many pipes are now experiencing tendon corrosion and failure, increasing the risk of sudden catastrophic pipe failure due to a reduction in tensile strength, leading to potential loss of supply to large populations.

How critical are these prestressed concrete pipes? What is the best way to quantify the risk of failure and prioritise remedial works? What is the best way to inspect and monitor these pipelines? Are failed tendons restrained sufficiently by the concrete matrix to provide some residual strength? How many tendons can break in each pipe section before action is needed? What are the options for remedial works?

The Solution

The aim of this Portfolio project is to answer the pressing questions, establish industry-wide best practice and to produce a code of practice that can be followed by water companies. This would provide guidance and reassurance to engineers, and demonstrate to senior managers and regulators that risks are being managed correctly if the code is followed.

The project will involve a world-wide literature review, interviews with engineers from participating companies, and comparison of the current remedial offerings available on the market. The code of practice will be developed to include checklists of factors to be considered, leading to a decision flowchart as part of a risk assessment procedure, and options for remediation.

Business Benefits

This training course will aim to:

• improve regulatory compliance for applications regulated under MCERTS

• save money by avoiding rework on systems that have been installed incorrectly and then fail their MCERTS inspections

• ensure the industry has the right skills to meet its regulatory obligations

• help address the projected shortage of MCERTS inspectors

• improve the management of wastewater flows.

Over the past 25 years, WRc has had close involvement with the Environment Agency’s MCERTS scheme, developing standards, producing guidance documents, testing instruments for fitness for purpose and certification, assessing inspectors and participating in the SMoF steering group. We have researched and tested on-site many of the technologies used. We now bring together a unique team of experts in wastewater, sewerage and flow measurements to develop this comprehensive course.

Duration: 9 months

Price: £19,500 (excl. VAT)

WRc contact: Andy Godley

Phone: +44 (0) 1793 865 000

Email: andy.godley@wrcgroup.com

The Need

Monitoring of wastewater flows is becoming increasingly important for regulatory compliance (e.g. the extension of the Environment Agency’s MCERTS programme to pass forward flows) and management of wastewater networks, including rising mains. This is a challenging measurement application, with a variety of methods and technologies available covering open channels, partially filled pipes and pressurised pipes. With regulators and other stakeholders paying close attention to reported figures, it is essential that measurements are as robust and accurate as possible. This means ensuring the right technologies are deployed, installed and operated according to good practice.

Discussions at industry forums, such as the MCERTS self-monitoring of flow (SMoF) steering group, show that the industry needs to upskill its workforce in the wastewater flow measurement area to have a better understanding of the solutions available and how they should be best deployed. The likely shortage of specialists to become independent MCERTS inspectors is also a concern.

“Currently, there is no single source of information that focuses on this area of upskilling.”

- Andy Godley, WRc Principal Consultant - Flow Measurement and Metering

The Solution

This project will develop a training course to provide water company staff, contractors and service providers with an understanding of flow measurement techniques in the wastewater context.

The proposal is to develop a three-day, face-toface course to include the following modules:

• Wastewater systems and MCERTS applications

• Closed pipe flow measurement systems

• Flow measurement in open channels and partially filled pipes

• Event duration monitors (EDMs), including the latest guidance from the Environment Agency

• Introduction to uncertainty in flow measurement.

The participating/funding companies will be able to help formulate the details of the syllabus and will receive a training session at their premises for their staff. Alongside course development, we will explore the option for course accreditation towards Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points.

Based on feedback from the initial courses, an on-line option for future delivery will be explored.

CP662: Odour Management User Group (OMUG)

Business Benefits

Participants will:

• have greater confidence that they are following best practice for managing odour emissions, minimising complaints and helping to maintain each water company’s customer measure of experience (C-MeX)

• gain up-to-date knowledge of current innovations regarding odour management and the confidence to apply innovative solutions to odour challenges

• develop in-house capability to proactively manage and resolve odour challenges as they arise

• expand their odour management support networks across water companies, the supply-chain and academia.

We bring considerable understanding of odour management to the wastewater industry and extensive experience of the issues faced in the management of treatment works.

We offer support to those in the industry via many pathways, including this, our Odour Management User Group (launched 2017), the Disinfection Forum (launched 2012 - see page 32-33) and the Instrument User Group (launched 2009 - see page 34-35).

Duration: 12 months

Price: £7,095 (excl. VAT)

WRc contact: Kevin Poole

Phone: +44 (0) 1793 865 000

Email: kevin.poole@wrcgroup.com

The Need

The demand for housing and land for commercial activities across the UK has led to the development of land in ever closer proximity to wastewater treatment works (WwTWs), which has increased the risk of odour complaints and the need to apply additional odour abatement measures. In addition, predicted UK climate change effects, such as hotter and drier summers and warmer winters, are likely to result in higher odour emissions from sewer networks and wastewater treatment works.

The effective management of odour arising from wastewater operations is essential for maintaining customer satisfaction with water companies. In England and Wales, this is expressed in terms of the customer measure of experience (C-MeX), which can ultimately lead to positive or negative financial payments from the regulator and impact the company’s reputation. Therefore, it is essential that water companies are aware of the latest advances in odour management and control technologies and approaches to address increased risks of odour emissions from sewer networks and wastewater facilities.

The Solution

The Odour Management User Group (OMUG) brings an awareness of potential solutions to address increases in the risk of odour emissions and odour complaints arising from sewer networks and wastewater facilities due to the impact of climate change, trade effluent discharges and encroachment of housing developments.

Over the course of 12 months, across four meetings, knowledge of odour management issues will be researched, discussed and shared with participant water companies, with input from WRc, regulators, odour management specialists and technology providers. The OMUG will bring an increased awareness of the latest odour management innovations and best practice across the UK, and internationally, and provide an opportunity to gain awareness of odour management experiences, interventions and outcomes (both positive and negative).

CP663: PFAS & Emerging Contaminants Expert Forum

Business Benefits

This forum will:

• advance the national discussion on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in water, but also enhance their own knowledge and understanding of the practical implications of the regulations and management of PFAS and other emerging contaminants (ECs)

• disseminate research, facilitate expert practitioners’ discussions, explore effective treatment processes and efficient disposal routes, evaluate new innovations and share real-life experiences

• facilitate headline topics for discussion, including catchment issues, water treatment, waste stream treatment, water quality and analytical methods, toxicology and legislative targets.

Supportive, collaborative and insightful from the outset of each project, our team of scientists, engineers and project managers will accompany Forum members on this knowledge-acquiring journey. This Portfolio project will be led by Dr Austen Buck, who leads WRc’s Water Safety Planning and Microbiology business areas, alongside Adeolu Aderemi, toxicologist at WRc’s National Centre for Environmental Toxicology (NCET), with experience in the human health and ecotoxicity risk assessment of chemicals, and technical lead for the management of UKWIR/WRc toxicity datasheets on PFAS.

Duration: 12 months

Price: £6,800 (excl. VAT)

WRc contact: Adeolu Aderemi

Phone: +44 (0) 1793 865 000

Email: adeolu.aderemi@wrcgroup.com

The Need

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are emerging contaminants (ECs) of growing global concern. Their release into water bodies is an international issue, with water companies and regulators grappling for solutions to minimise the risks these chemicals pose to human health. Increased pressure from the research community, and independent bodies, has led to a call for more stringent PFAS regulation, posing on-going challenges to water companies as they adapt and innovate to meet changing requirements.

As well as the challenge to respond to the growing threat of PFAS and other ECs, the UK water industry also faces some major obstacles, including:

• limited information about the sources and pathways of some ECs in the water system

• high costs associated with innovative solutions of the treatment and management of some ECs

• a lack of opportunity to share ECs knowledge and best-practice across regions

• an absence of toxicological data and standard protocol for the risk assessment of some ECs, such as PFAS and microplastics.

The Solution

WRc has formed a new PFAS and Emerging Contaminants Expert Forum, which brings together expert voices in the treatment, management and risk assessment of these ECs.

The Forum will welcome guest speakers from industry innovators, international research organisations, regulatory bodies and academia. Both members and speakers will provide technical insight and analytical information; they will share real-life experiences on ECs, including PFAS, their challenges and how they are managed at their company.

Members will receive detailed minutes following each meeting, have access to an online discussion space throughout the year and receive an annual email roundup of information shared during the sessions.

This forum follows the format of WRc’s highly successful Disinfection Forum (see page 3233), which, since 2010, has been supporting colleagues around the water industry to share experiences and align internal policies and processes with international best practice.

CP666: Disinfection Forum

Business Benefits

Forum participants can expect the following wider benefits:

• An increased awareness of the latest disinfection knowledge and research.

• Supported access to Ct Toolbox software and influence the course of improvements.

• Development of strong industry network and connections.

• Client-driven agenda and discussion.

• Scope to cover a range of different water sources and treatment processes.

• Satisfaction of regulatory requirements.

• Knowledge and tools to drive improvements and help reduce the risk of costly incidents and fines.

• Reduced corporate and customer risk.

• Potential for further collaborative research projects.

Since 2012, our consultants, researchers and scientists have delivered awareness and knowledge of disinfection management to water companies through this longstanding forum.

The face-to-face connection, and independent impartial chairing by WRc, allows for open discussion. Historically, consensus from this Forum carries more weight with regulators, such as the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) and Ofwat, than from individual companies.

Duration: 12 months

Price: £6,800 (excl. VAT, incl. CT Toolbox licence & support)

WRc contact: Daisy Allen

Phone: +44 (0) 1793 865 000

Email: daisy.allen@wrcgroup.com

The Need

Within the water industry there is a need to understand how disinfection should be both optimised and resilient to future challenges. In addition, the industry must adhere to quality regulations set by the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI), necessitating that they establish appropriate treatment processes to safeguard public health and mitigate disinfection by-products. Compliance with Ofwat requirements and meeting customer expectations are also critical to uphold. Insufficient knowledge-sharing within the water industry results in unforeseen costs and regulatory scrutiny when managing unplanned events, and non-compliance can result in significant fines, impacting a water company’s financial and reputational standing.

The water industry is confronted with challenges, such as population growth, extreme weather events and aging infrastructure. Water companies must not only meet existing regulations but also proactively optimise disinfection processes to ensure resilience against future challenges.

The Solution

In response to the UK water industry’s disinfection knowledge-sharing needs, WRc launched the Disinfection Forum in 2012. Since its inception, this forum has continued to provide a platform for industry professionals to share first-hand experiences and explore alternative approaches to water disinfection challenges. Our Ct Toolbox software facilitates informed decision-making by predicting the impact of treatment changes.

The Disinfection Forum acts as a central hub for knowledge exchange, supporting collective efforts to address water companies’ disinfection challenges effectively with the provision of independent advice from WRc.

CP671: Instrument User Group (IUG)

Business Benefits

The outputs of this project will enable companies to:

• improve decision making and adoption of best practice

• select appropriate instrumentation and adopt best practice in its installation, operation and maintenance

• collaborate and share costs for piloting and evaluating instrumentation technology to deliver testing, which meets the industry’s needs

• resolve issues with, and provide technical direction to, the supply chain

• improve public perception of water companies’ roles by a reduction in highway drainage problems that are not water companies’ responsibility.

WRc has a long track record of working across the water sector with water companies and the supply chain on instrumentation-related challenges. Our support spans development of strategy and best practice through to practical testing and evaluation.

In 2009, in response to requests from the industry, WRc launched the Instrument User Group (IUG). The group has been running ever since, welcoming new members on a regular basis and providing a consistent format to ensure the latest practices are shared and explored.

Duration: 12 months

Price: £6,500 (excl. VAT)

WRc contact: Dr Leo Carswell

Phone: +44 (0) 1793 865 000

Email: leo.carswell@wrcgroup.com

The Need

Reliable, robust and cost-effective instrumentation is a critical element of many water company operations.

As the water sector evolves, with everincreasing reliance on technology, there is an ever greater need for water companies to collaborate and benefit from shared thinking and experience within the areas of instrumentation, monitoring and data.

After over 10 years of the IUG there still remains a strong need for water company experts to get together (outside of events such as conferences), to discuss topics and challenges in detail with a focus on learning and improvement.

The Solution

WRc’s Instrument User Group (IUG) is the recognised group within the water industry for expertise on instrumentation. It is the place where water companies can bring problems and share solutions.

The group work together to decide on collectively agreed upon themes/topics for discussion. Meetings are organised and chaired by WRc. Only member water companies attend the meetings unless others, such as suppliers, are expressly invited. This allows for detailed open discussions, which may not be possible in other forums. WRc records meeting notes, and these are shared with the member companies only.

The group will continue with the previously successful format of on-line meetings, but will also have at least two in-person meetings a year (either at WRc Swindon or a water company’s offices). This will provide an opportunity to focus in depth on a single topic.

Members will also benefit from site visits to see technology in action and better understand some of the, sometimes subtle, activities which deliver successful instrumentation.

News, views and successes

WRc Consultant Engineer David Sivil’s favourite Portfolio project is the Odour Management User Group:

I have enjoyed, and still enjoy, sharing and discussing odour management best practice, within the informal and collaborative atmosphere of the user group meetings, with water utility staff from across the UK who are directly involved with odour management but often in different ways. Presentations from regulators, technology providers and consultants, both in the UK and around the world, as well as WRc, have raised this user group’s awareness of existing and new innovative approaches for predicting, estimating, monitoring and modelling the effects of odour emissions and implementing and maintaining cost effective mitigation measures.

50 Popular Past & Current Portfolio Projects

1. Competency wastewater operator training and competency tool

2. Rapid tracking of hydrocarbon contamination of drinking water 3. Benefiting from microbial source tracking

4. Evaluating new approaches to on-line metals analysis in water 5. Biotreatment for drinking water 6. Best practice in pro-active sewer cleaning to minimise the likelihood of blockages

7. Supply pipe management - preparing for adoption

8. Rapid detection of misconnections

9. Evaluation of emergent adsorbent-based processes for removal of metaldehyde

10. Reducing the risk of bacteriological failure at service reservoirs

11. Horizon scan of future pesticide use in drinking water catchments

12. A move towards zero waste - recycling options for water treatment work residues

13. Sewerage rising mains: to replace or renovate?

14. Sewerage transfer of private sewer asset data

15. Service reservoir integrity

16. Rainwater and grey water - the true costs and benefits

17. Large meter performance

18. Tree root intrusion - latest research and best practice guidance on barrier techniques

19. Alternative options for sub-metering

20. Proactive management of water distribution systems

21. Rising main doctor

22. Efficient management of pitch fibre pipes

23. Preventing invert corrosion in rising mains

24. Managing aeration plants to reduce energy costs and carbon

25. Wastewater investment protocol for wastewater treatment technology

26. Carbon management: CASSM - optimising carbon abatement

27. Sewerage alternative approaches to surface water separation

Robin Pratt, Strategic Planner at Scottish Water, commented about Portfolio:

It was a sheer pleasure taking part in CP636 Service Reservoir Design project, it was run very professionally by WRc, the analysis and reporting is of a very high standard and was all delivered in a timely manner. The output aligns very well with our transition to risk-based decision making on infrastructure investment. We are already using the guidance provided to inform decisions on several treated water storage sites and I expect that in the long-term it will save our customers money and result in a water network with more equitable risk of interruption to supply.

News, views and successes

Donna Murray, WRc Consultant ScientistWater Quality Modeller and Trainer/Course Coordinator was the content manager for RAPID - the Risk Assessment Pesticide Information Database, which started as a Portfolio project.

Donna comments about her favourite Portfolio:

RAPID has become a service offering for catchment and drinking water safety plan teams, as they regularly assess risks that agricultural pesticide applications pose to drinking water. The Portfolio process allowed research into methodologies for groundwater and surface water risk scores alongside horizon scanning for future use of pesticides. Then the participants got involved in the development of the software with user specification and testing - this approach produced a tool with the interface and outputs for RAPID assessments.

50 Popular Past & Current Portfolio Projects

28. Waste and resource development of a rapid test for anaerobic digestion

29. Catchment-based phosphorus control

30. Reducing pollution risk at critical locations in sewer networks

31. Energy benchmarking to reduce operational costs - a simplified approach

32. BIM - what's the value to the water industry?

33. Energy-efficient operation of rising mains

34. CCTV adapting to the digital age

35. Ultra-low-loss new networks

36. Water quality coffee

37. New meters for networks

38. Applying gas sector innovations to water

39. Explosive atmospheres code of practice scoping study

40. National guidance for properties at risk of low pressure

41. The potential for smart DMAs

45. Service reservoir volume design guidance

46. CIPP leak tight testing

About WRc

WRc is a leading provider of solutions for the water, waste and environment industries. For almost 100 years, WRc has been providing independent research and consultancy to utilities, regulators, industry, suppliers, the European Union and governments worldwide. We operate across different sectors, including water, environment, gas, waste, carbon and resource management.

We discover and deliver new and exciting solutions that enable clients to meet the challenges of the future.

Our mission is to be established innovation leaders who deliver innovation through collaboration and technical excellence. We create value in all that we do and our valued solutions help clients to meet their future goals and challenges. Our priority is to deliver exceptional service that will enable clients to achieve revenue growth and see improved profitability in a sustainable manner.

Part of the RSK group

Since joining the RSK Group in 2020, WRc has been able to pull on an ever-expanding global presence of over 200 environmental, engineering and technical services businesses, offering dynamic, multidisciplinary services to a wide range of sectors.

Creating a better tomorrow

Our work as consultants and service providers in the water, waste and environmental sectors supports the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They help us to understand where our work makes a difference. They also act as guiding principles for our business and our services and product innovation roadmap.

Become consciously sustainable

a great place to work Become a partner of choice

the communities we operate in

We are focused on doing the right thing - protecting the environment, reducing our carbon footprint and that of our clients, and above all ensuring safe, healthy, populations and

This is achieved through demonstrating our core valuesunderpinning our trusted innovative solutions with technical excellence and independence of thought.

This brochure is not for distribution outside of those agreed without prior discussion and written consent from WRc.

Who we work with

I hope that you have enjoyed reading our 2024 Portfolio Collection. We look forward to receiving your feedback on the current projects and connecting you with WRc’s expert technical teams to develop the future of the overall Portfolio programme.

If you would like to discuss any of the projects in more detail, or have any general questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly.

Carolyn Lobb Client Outreach Manager

carolyn.lobb@wrcgroup.com

+44 (0) 7471 215467