Tynemarch have carried out many successful national research projects that have been published by the sponsoring organisation. The following reports are available for download or purchase.
Sponsoring Organisation:
UKWIR
Report Reference:
06/WM/18/3
Report Title:
DOMS - What Can We Learn? Research Report
Publication Date:
2006
Abstract:
Existing water company Distribution Operation and Maintenance Strategies (DOMS) have been reviewed in order to identify current best practice and highlight areas where further development would be beneficial.
Research has been undertaken covering:
the effect of mains bursts on iron concentrations and customer contacts regarding discolouration
the benefits of interventions such as systematic flushing and mains rehabilitation
the design of cost-effective monitoring programmes
the quantification of costs associated with water quality service failures and capital and operational interventions.
A DOMS Guidance Manual (published separately) has been prepared providing comprehensive guidance on the development of a DOMS, addressing gaps or deficiencies in current practice. This Guidance Manual has been tested by water companies and modified as necessary to take account of practical findings and feedback.
Capital Maintenance Planning: A Common Framework Volume 1: Overview
Publication Date
2002
Abstract:
This is volume 1 of a 4 volume set, all of which are provided when you order this volume. A Common Framework for Capital Maintenance Planning has been developed building upon the concepts outlined in the Ofwat letter MD161 (?Maintaining Serviceability to Customers?). The project involved wide consultation within the UK water industry and the active involvement and contribution of the economic and quality Regulators. The Common Framework is founded on risk-based principles so that in most cases capital maintenance will be justified on the current and future probability of asset failure and the resultant consequences for customers, the environment and water service providers, including the costs arising. The Framework has been piloted by three water service providers for selected asset groups.
Supply pipes are privately owned and maintained in the UK and yet are the location of a significant proportion of total leakage. This scoping study provides an overview of policies and practice relating to supply pipes. Both water company and customer views have been obtained on issues including common supplies, lead supply pipes and free leak repair schemes. Although the arrangements for supply pipes could be considered essentially fair, there is little understanding of them among the public and there could be significant benefit from providing more information to customers and property professionals. A variety of alternative arrangements for the supply pipe are considered. The costs and benefits of alternatives are difficult to assess as there is insufficient reliable data available relating to the supply pipe asset and its condition. Further data collection by water companies and research on private expenditure is recommended.
Towards Best Practice for the Assessment of Supply Pipe Leakage
Publication Date
2005
Abstract:
A supply pipe leakage estimate is required for regulatory reporting. However, a more detailed understanding of proportion of total leakage that is associated with supply pipes will also improve operational allocation of leakage reduction resources.
A methodology is proposed that is based on the bursts and background estimate (BABE) method modified for service pipes and will allow consistent inter- and intra-company comparisons. The methodology can be applied with only basic levels of available data, but results will become more representative as company-specific data are collected and applied to the analysis.
The proposed approach cannot yet be regarded as definitive best practice as there is only limited data and experience of its application. However the framework provided is sufficient to allow best practice to develop. Approaches to further data collection are detailed and further research is recommended.
The implementation of the approach detailed in this report will provide companies with a robust statistical method for the estimation of household night consumption, which takes account of known property attributes for each area of application. An improved approach to night flow analysis has been provided which is consistent with the proposed night consumption modelling approach. Taken together, these two components will provide a statistically sound and unbiased approach to leakage estimation, allowing companies to place greater confidence in reported leakage figures. The use of area-specific household night consumption allowances will improve the targeting of leakage control resources.
The report considers the occurrence and causes of sewer blockages and reviews current management practice in the context of regulatory developments. A general specification is provided for a blockage detection system, including requirements for installation, maintenance, safety, reliability and cost. Potential monitoring parameters are reviewed and available sensors technologies are considered with particular focus on level and pressure monitoring. Communications options are reviewed, including systems architecture and telemetry integration. A methodology is described for assessing the costs and benefits of alternative approaches to blockage management, and calculations are provided in a spreadsheet. The cost benefit analysis is applied to eight case studies. An assessment is made of the market for sewer blockage detection equipment. The report concludes that subject to further development by suppliers and successful field trials, on-line detection of sewer blockages offers a technically feasible and cost-effective approach to the management of sewer blockages and their consequences.
An approach to formulating interventions and seeking funding to address aesthetic aspects of drinking water quality is considered. These aspects include discolouration and particles; taste and odour; and hardness. Guidance is given on good practice for recording, categorising and analysing customer contacts. A checklist of potential causes of observed problems and of interventions to address these is compiled from industry expertise. Finally, an appropriate methodology for justification of investment to improve aesthetic water quality is described, using customer willingness-to-pay surveys and cost-benefit analysis. The report includes the outcome of consultation with Regulators and a survey of the industry with regard to aspirations and current
Water companies have long recognised that a more integrated approach to the management of distribution system functions could be beneficial but also that in practice it can be difficult to present the business case for integration initiatives.
This report provides a framework for water companies to consider Integrated Network Management (INM) approaches within water distribution network management.
The framework provides the context in which INM should be considered through definitions, objectives and scope of INM with a common set of principles and components. The remaining framework deliverables (a "Maturity Scale" and "Routefinder") allow companies to identify "Development Pathways" (DPs) towards INM best practice. Companies can develop their own DPs using the framework, and twelve key DPs are provided as appendices. The DPs indicate a vision for future INM practice and identify areas of further research.
Ofwat, Environment Agency, Defra, WaterUK and ccWater
Report Reference:
PROC/01/0062
Report Title:
Leakage methodology review: variation in per capita consumption estimates
Publication Date
2007
Abstract:
The objectives of this project are to provide to a wider audience further understanding as to the reasons for variation in Per Capita Consumption (PCC) and to highlight the technical and other issues involved in preparing PCC estimates. If the project achieves these objectives there will be more informed debate on household consumption and stakeholders will be better able to determine the value of improved approaches to consumption estimates.
The objectives have been addressed by review of the following:
The influences of external factors on PCC (e.g. socio-economic, climate etc.)
The influences of methodological assumptions on PCC (e.g. handling meter under-registration, supply pipe leakage, self-selection issues etc.).
The various purposes for which PCC estimates are required and the fitness for purpose of current monitors.
The calculation of PCC requires an estimate of both consumption and occupancy. Particular attention has been given to occupancy issues in this report
