This section provides a selection of relevant projects. Tynemarch work encompasses a wide range of activities within the water industry and further details of this work can be provided on request. Clients are not mentioned except where our involvement with specific companies is in the public domain.
Maintenance Planning
Tynemarch have worked with seven companies in preparing their capital maintenance submissions for PR04, including those companies that achieved the highest scores in the Ofwat ranking system. We have developed and implemented appropriate analytical approaches that reflect the level of detail required and the availability of data and expert judgement. Our work has included attendance at meetings with the Reporter and Ofwat.
Development of methodology and software for justification of structural and water quality mains rehabilitation at PR99 and PR04. The company’s implementation of this methodology was assessed by Ofwat as ‘Leading’ at PR04.
Development of burst frequency models over monthly and annual periods, allowing estimation of future burst rates from mains and location attributes (including soil characteristics) and weather data.
Provision of tools to allow company to assess maintenance requirements under various climate-change scenarios, including modelling of the effects of climate change on burst frequency.
Review of company work on Natural Rate of Rise of leakage and its use in the justification of mains capital maintenance.
Development and application of risk analysis methodology using hierarchical dependency trees applied to all service areas, including the bacteriological water quality, and Iron and Manganese discolouration, for the prioritisation of DMAs for maintenance.
Planning of capital maintenance requirements for all sewage treatment works assets for a water and sewerage company. The approach included the derivation of failure rate models from company failure records, and the validation of deterioration models against data from repeat condition surveys.
Planning of capital maintenance requirements for all water treatment works assets for a water only company. The project involved a site-specific application of Failure Modes, Effects and Criticality Analysis (FMECA) to 12 works, and included application of an improved approach to the identification of maintenance requirements for refurbishable assets such as concrete structures.
Planning of sewer survey and rehabilitation requirements for a water and sewerage company. The project included modelling of sewer deterioration, rates of collapse and blockage, flooding and pollution consequences, and costs of interventions and asset and service failures. Constituent models were combined within a system for the optimal selection of survey and maintenance interventions.
Modelling of Iron pick-up within the distribution system. The model was developed using Iron concentration data collected as part of the company’s DOMS implementation and was used in the justification of future mains rehabilitation at PR04.
Modelling of discolouration within the distribution system. In the absence of reliable data on discolouration incidents a judgement-based hierarchical dependency tree model was developed in conjunction with water company operations staff. The model provided estimates of the probability and severity of discolouration at the DMA level.
Selection of optimal mains maintenance in order to maintain current levels of serviceability (with respect to bursts, interruptions, Iron pick-up and discolouration) at minimum whole-life cost. Maintenance interventions included air scouring, additional valve installation, and mains rehabilitation.
Risk Analysis
Our broader experience in the application of risk analysis techniques includes:
A quantitative risk analysis undertaken for Severn Trent Water covering the whole of the strategic water supply system for both PR99 and PR04. An optimal water allocation model was employed to determine the best operational responses to failure events. The outcome of the study was a ranking of schemes in terms of their risk-cost-benefit and the saving of considerable investment on security of supply projects. New, more effective schemes were also identified as a consequence of the analysis.
This analysis was extended to the district level, i.e. areas such as Stoke, Rugby and Mansfield.
A risk analysis was undertaken for a UK water and sewerage company on the need for replacement or partial refurbishment of a major trunk main. The study found that the risk of failure would be reduced to an acceptable level by refurbishing only particular sections of the main resulting in considerable cost savings.
A risk analysis was undertaken for a UK water and sewerage company to quantify the risk of groundwater pollution arising from the construction of a new trunk road along the line of a major chalk aquifer.
Risk analyses of the probability and compliance consequences of power failure on both water treatment and wastewater treatment plants have been undertaken. Where necessary, site surveys were undertaken to assess equipment condition and to produce single line diagrams where non-existent. Recommendations for the replacement of equipment and reconfiguration of the system were provided.
A study of the security of supply of the Selby ring main was undertaken for Yorkshire Water to identify capital and operational means of reducing risk.
A corporate risk assessment for a UK water and sewerage company to identify the area of activity which represented the highest risk to the company as a whole. The project involved both questionnaires and interviews. The results of the first stage identified the functional area of primary concern as being the distribution system. Stage 2 examined this area in more detail and compared the survey results with the then July Return data.
A study was undertaken for a UK water and sewerage company to assess the probability of collapse of a borehole taking into account condition and operation.
Regulation
In addition to projects mentioned above:
We were appointed as Framework consultants to assist Ofwat in the areas of statistical analysis and capital maintenance at the PR04 periodic review.
We have worked directly for the Environment Agency on the drafting of guidance material for PR99 and on the development of improved environmental performance indicators for wastewater treatment.
Jeremy Lumbers was appointed by Water UK to facilitate discussions between the water companies and DWI with regard to PPRA research and the way forward.
UKWIR Research
We have completed a number of successful UKWIR projects. Those of particular relevance to asset management planning include:
UKWIR/Ofwat project to develop a Common Framework for capital maintenance planning:
The Common Framework project demonstrated Tynemarch capabilities in developing a structured framework able to encompass a range of company and Regulator requirements without stifling innovation by the Companies or compromising Regulatory discretion.
UKWIR scoping study on asset condition assessment and capital maintenance planning. This project was a precursor to the Common Framework project and involved a structured consultation with Ofwat, the DWI, the Water Industry Commissioner for Scotland, Defra and a large number of UK water and wastewater companies. Relevant components of PR99 business plan submissions were reviewed on a confidential basis and general conclusions drawn about the strengths and weaknesses of existing approaches.
UWKIR project to assess the feasibility of on-line detection of sewer blockages to reduce the incidence of flooding and pollution from the sewer network. The project included a systematic quantification of the costs and benefits of sewer blockage detection and the provision of a spreadsheet tool for site-specific assessment.
UKWIR project on risk analysis for the ranking of water supply investment schemes. The study included a survey of current UK practice in water supply risk analysis and the development of a flexible methodology suitable for large or small suppliers.
UKWIR Guidance on the development of Water Distribution Operation and Maintenance Strategies (DOMS) - in progress. Entitled ‘DOMS - What Can We Learn?’, this project will include a review of existing water company DOMS using a standard template comprising a hierarchy of key components and criteria. The guidance provided will define the key concepts, scope and components of a ‘best practice’ DOMS, and will provide more detailed information on a number of specific topics, including: appropriate monitoring programmes, quantifying the costs and benefits of interventions, and the effect of poor asset integrity on water quality.
