UKPN flags priority water sites for reconnection during power cuts

UK Power Networks (UKPN) has worked with Thames Water to identify water infrastructure sites that should be prioritised for reconnection during power cuts to ensure customers are not left without water as well.

The distribution network operator (DNO) is also planning to undertake similar exercises with other water companies in its licence areas across London, the South East and the East of England.

UKPN said even a momentary loss of power at an operational site can affect the water system in an area for several hours afterwards and lead sewer flooding in the wastewater system. It therefore worked with Thames Water analyse historical data on power cuts to establish where they happened, the root causes and how they affected water infrastructure.

The DNO said this enabled them to flag nearly 2,269 additional Thames Water sites, plus a further 5,566 other water utility sites, in its records. It said if a water infrastructure site experiences a power cut, its crews will now be able to tell how water and wastewater services could be affected and respond accordingly.

Justin Camis, energy engineering project manager at Thames Water, said: “Stable power is critical to maintain supplies of water and wastewater services to households and businesses.

“We really value how UK Power Networks has worked with us to better understand the essential service we provide, including proactively involving us in prioritising sites for reconnection to minimise the impact on customers.”

Luke Hughes, network planning manager at UKPN, said: “Our engagement with Thames Water helped us develop a new approach to data sharing and joint analysis with water companies to enhance resilience and minimise disruption to our shared customer groups.

“We are aiming to replicate what we have learned with other regional water companies in our area, building on the relationships fostered through our Priority Services Register data-sharing initiative to reduce disruption for customers.”

In its final report on networks’ responses to Storm Arwen in November, which cut power supplies to more than a million customers across the UK, the government’s Energy Emergencies Executive Committee said it intends review the current approach to power restoration following extreme weather, including if and how critical sites could be prioritised.