Standard content for Members only
To continue reading this article, please login to your Utility Week account, Start 14 day trial or Become a member.
If your organisation already has a corporate membership and you haven’t activated it simply follow the register link below. Check here.
Not enough money is being spent by water companies to prevent leaks.
That is the view of SES Water innovation manager Jeremey Heath, who told Utility Week Live that a disproportionate amount of money is spent on fixing leaks compared to preventing them.
While water companies are preparing to spend £500 million on reducing leaks, more than half of this is to be set aside for repairing bursts.
The majority of leak-related innovation schemes underway at water companies are also focused on raising awareness and locating leaks with 38% of live projects on the former and 32% on the latter.
Just 19% are focussed on preventing leaks, with 13% of projects focused on innovative mend techniques.
The figures are taken from research carried out by Heath as part of his role as the head of UKWIR which analysed the 417 ongoing innovation projects by water companies.
In a call to arms, Heath said that water companies need to change their approach if they are to hit the sector-wide ambition of halving leakage by 2050.
“We need systems that are aware quickly, locate quickly and mend quickly.”
Speeding up the process will require collaboration with local authorities to ensure work is not delayed waiting for necessary permits, Heath explained, as well greater collaboration with supply chain contractors.
Heath, also said that the process of fixing pipes had not changed a great deal since Roman times, adding that while advances have been made to find leaks little has been done to advance the way they are repaired.
He added: “We dig a big hole, and cut out the bad bit”.
Please login or Register to leave a comment.