Hot Topics

The use of food waste disposal units for the disposal of food waste via the sewers is attracting substantial interest in the UK from local authorities as a potentially cost effective and publicly acceptable method for managing a problematic waste stream. .http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=743

New collaborative research project to develop best practice guidance and and draft specification for the design, installation, operation and maintenance of geocellular underground SUD storage systems.http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=727

WRc, in partnership with Milieu, has been re-awarded contract to provide technical advice to the European Commission on the Rotterdam Convention.http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=726

WRc has been commissioned by UKWIR with support from the Carbon Trust and Water UK to develop a water industry carbon accounting methodology, by which water companies can apply a common approach to estimating, and reporting on, their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This project builds on a tool previously developed by WRc for UK Water Industry Research (UKWIR) and the industry, and updates it in relation to both the latest Defra GHG Reporting Guidelines and the forthcoming requirements of the Carbon Reduction Commitment. The new tool will also include enhanced functionality for greater ease of use. The project, which is being managed on behalf of the funders by UK Water Industry Research (UKWIR), started in August 2007 and will end in November 2007.http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=725

WRc is currently finalising with Scottish Water the new second edition of Sewers for Scotland (SfS2), the technical guide for sewer adoptions in Scotland, which now include shared public SUD systems, http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=724

WRc is providing technical risk assessment support to the Environment Agency and WRAP who are working on a BREW funded project to produce quality protocols for the recovery and utilisation of selected 'waste streams' as products for the construction industry, and for application to land. http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=723

WRc and Lyonnaise de Eaux de Casablanca (LYDEC) signed a partnership agreement on 12 July 2007. Under the terms of the agreement LYDEC will market the Sahara Leak Location service and its own supporting technical services throughout Morocco. http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=693

Sahara Pipeline Inspection have recently won and extension to their contract with Thames Water. The extension worth £180k is for leak location surveys as part of Thames Waters continuing work to reduce leakage.http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=695

In June, Sahara Pipeline Inspection completed inspection of 26km of water mains for Lyonnaise de Eaux de Casablanca (LYDEC) in Casablanca, Morocco. During the surveys 12 leaks were discovered - LYDEC are in the process of repairing and assessing the size of the leaks. For more information go to http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=694

Sahara Pipeline Inspection completed three surveys in July for ATLL - the bulk water supplier for the Barcelona region in Spain. The survey contract was arranged by Aqua Consult Ingenieros of Madrid (A-Cing). WRc have an agreement with A-Cing allowing them to market the Sahara Leak Location service within Spain. For more information go to http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=696

The WRc asset management team will work with Thames Water to develop capital maintenance infrastructure water quality models for distribution mains. For more information go to http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=680

Electricity use in water and Wastewater treatment is increasingly becoming the greatest contributor to operating costs, and water companies need to ensure that energy is used in the most efficient way without compromising treatment process performance. WRc collaborative project CP310 Energy.For more information go to http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=672

The Environment Agency has commissioned WRc to undertake a national-scale assessment of the environmental benefits of phosphate-stripping at sewage treatment works. For more information go to http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=677

WRc has been appointed by UKWIR to carry out a review of integrated catchment based consenting methodologies to provide the industry with a greater understanding of the reliability and implications of adopting a catchment based modelling approach to setting consents for wastewater treatment works discharges taking into account the benefits of controls on other sources of pollution. For more information go to http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=679

WRc heads a consortium that leads the water-using products area of MTP. MTP, operating through a Lead Contract to Defra, supports UK Government policy on sustainable products. For more information go to http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=682

Continued high demand for WRc's Waste Testing and Consultancy Services has facilitated a 60% expansion in our capacity for BM100 testing. For more information go to http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=681

At IWEX 2007, Bodycote, Hepworth, Pipex and received their certificates for demonstrating the ‘fitness for purpose’ of their products under the WRc Approved™ Scheme. For more information go to http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=685

Department of Communities and Local Government and Defra published a joint consultation document on options for improving the efficiency of domestic uses of water in new homes and workplaces on 13 December 2006. This builds on work undertaken by WRc for the Building Regulations Advisory Committee during 2005/6 to investigate the need for and possibility of including water conservation measures into regulation.For more information go to http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=663

WRc will be developing asset deterioration models for Dwr Cymru Welsh Water. For more information go to http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=662

Sahara Pipeline Inspection, were commissioned by EPAL in Lisbon, Portugal to conduct a series of Leak Detection surveys in their concrete trunk mains supplying the growing city of Lisbon. http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=660

WRc plc is supporting, in collaboration with Thames Water, the Water Workshops at the 2008 Earth Summit on the 3rd-6th June. The workshops will include such topics as the water cycle and resources issues of the future including conservation. For more information go to http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=656

Defra has commissioned WRc to produce the first version of a modular, UK Marine Monitoring Manual to support the United Kingdom Marine Monitoring and Assessment Strategy (UKMMAS). http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=655

The Environment Agency has commissioned WRc to develop a ‘plain English’ guidance document to help those developing Programmes of Measures (PoMs) under the Water Framework Directive (WFD). http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=652

WRc has completed a major Portfolio project to examine the benefits of monitoring the concentration of dissolved oxygen (DO) during the distribution of potable water. For more information go to http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=651

WRc are organising a seminar for waste disposal authorities which will include presentations from the Environment Agency, East London Waste Disposal Authority, industry and WRc. For more information go to http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=636

WRc Sahara® is currently surveying Trunk Mains as well as their Distribution network for Fingal County County and Dublin City Council. For more information go to http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=638

WRc has been awarded a significant contract for Thames Water through their framework contractor Black & Veatch (B&V). For more information go to http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=635

DCLG's consultation on water efficiency is being led by WRc plc. Comments on the proposals can be made up to 9th March 2007. The proposals can be seen at www.wrcplc.co.uk/waterefficiency, which can also be used to post comments. For more information go to http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/waterefficiency

With the introduction of the Norwegian SKIM recommendations, NCET have been commissioned by a chemical company to carry out assessments on offshore oil field chemicals which fall under the criteria for SKIM. For more information go to http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=602

The first phase of a Portfolio research project, “CP310 Comparing energy efficiency: where are we good?” has recently been successfully completed. . For more information go to http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=601

Flushing items down the toilet is not something that many people wish to think about, but for water utilities it is becoming an increasingly important problem. For more information go to http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=599

The local operating company of Veolia in Paris, Companie des Eaux de Paris, had detected an unexplained sound in one of their trunk mains. As the precise location was not easy to determine, the noise was not definitely coming from a leak and the location was under a busy road further investigation was necessary. Veolia requested a leak location survey using the Sahara system. For more information go to http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=590

WRc hosted a recent CIWEM evening technical meeting on treatment processes. For more information go to http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=586

WRc are currently undertaking an update of the SRM aimed at providing a Common Framework consistent and detailed approach to all aspects of S ewerage Risk Management, including investment planning. For more information go to http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=584

As part of a follow-on study, funded by the Department for Communities & Local Government (DCLG), Ashford Integrated Water Management Study 2(www.ashfordsfuture.org.uk), WRc’s Pollution Management business has been awarded a contract from the Environment Agency to develop an integrated catchment model (ICM) of the water quality in Great Stour catchment upstream of Horton that can be used for decision support. For more information go to http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=582

WRc is pleased to be a partner in TECHNEAU and is involved in several Work Areas, including distribution operation and management, development of a water treatment simulator and the TKI (TECHNEAU Knowledge Integrator) – a searchable knowledge bank dedicated to water supply and related issues – and production of the TECHNEAU newsletter. For more information go to http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=580

Portfolio, WRc’s collaborative research programme, always aims to deliver focussed and usable solutions to topical problems facing the water industry. For more information go to http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=579

WRc has recently been awarded a contract with Defra/DWI to review the formation of NDMA in water treatment and to then undertake a programme of monitoring in England and Wales. For more information go to http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=576

The Sanipor process has been used within the UK for over 17 years for renovating sewers, laterals and manholes. It is quite a simple process and comprises the application of two specifically designed silicate-based chemical compounds. For more information go to http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=575

Sahara® arrives in Melbourne to conduct a full range of trial surveys for Melbourne Water, City West Water, Yarra Valley and Sydney Water. For more information go to http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=557

Fats oils and greases are currently costing the water industry up to £20 million each year in sewer inefficiencies and sewer cleaning costs. Equally the public are at a loss as to the best way to dispose of FOG.

The WRc Group is celebrating 10 years of working for the European Environment Agency (EEA) as the lead organisation of the European Topic Centre (ETC) on Inland Water.

Environmental Scientist, Rob Collins, has joined The WRc Group to head up the current Portfolio projects 'Understanding the Strategic Implications of the Water Framework Directive' (CP219).

Since privatisation in 1989, the UK water industry has undertaken it's business planning in 5-year cycles, each referred to as an Asset Management Plan (AMP).

WRc Environment, the leading international environmental consultancy is delighted to have secured EU LIFE Environment funding for a research project on an innovative treatment for wastewater using renewable energy technologies.

This workshop held in June 2004 explored key issues including R&D ownership, leadership, outsourcing and quantifying benefits. Project details @ CP180 - Implementing R&D, Tracking Benefits & Tax Advantages.

CP109 - Managing Unmanned Sewage Works, wins Yorkshire Water's 2004 Innovation Award. The research project investigates & demonstrates a low cost / power system to manage failure risk at unmanned works.

Streetworks & their associated disruption is high on the UK Government's agenda. The issue has caught the attention of the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, who ensured a Traffic Management Bill will be tackled by the UK Government in 2004. WRc has been working with 4 Water Utilities to examine Real Cost of Streetworks to Utilities & Society'.

Summary of current WRc collaborative research on demand management related projects reflecting current concerns & longer term industry interest.

How water industry research has developed since water utility privatisation 10 years ago in the UK.

What are the implications of the most substantial piece of water legislation to come out of Brussels? For related WFD information see CP219 - Strategic Implications of the Water Framework Directive.

A group of 8 Water Utilities are working to fight against zebra mussels. Project details @ CP190 - Preventing Zebra Mussel Problems in Raw Water Intakes / Pipelines.

A group of Water Utilities & contractors are working together to maximise the life of sewers. Project details @ CP167 - Sewer Repair and Sealing Techniques.

- Link to agenda & review of the day.

Views from WRc's Research Director, Dr Ian Walker.

New technology is changing the shape of Water Industry quality instrumentation, but serious challenges remain. Steve Russell explores current technology impacts & future research.

Summary of the £1.5 million per annum 2001-04 Portfolio research programme. This addresses topical problems through sharing costs & leveraging budgets / experience.