Hot Topics

Impact of Valve Operations on Network Performance will help participants to reduce distruption and maximise benefits from mains rehabilitation, mains replacement and leak repairs.http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1429

Proposed Portfolio research project CP403 will develop a comprehensive metering training package to improve measurement performance across the business. http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1425

Water Treatment Disinfection Forum will provide a highly efficient means to identify new technologies and share knowledge and experiences on disinfection issues. http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1416

Portfolio project CP406 will help water utilities manage and substantially reduce the high energy costs and carbon emissions associated with operating aeration plants. .http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1428

In 2008, WRc started a Portfolio collaborative project CP321 that reviewed current practice in the water and waste industry with reference to The Engineering Equipment & Materials Users' Association (EEMUA) Publication 191 (Alarm Systems - A Guide to Design, Management and Procurement) which is widely recognised as the leading benchmark of best practice in industrial alarm systems. http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1415

WRc were commissioned to define an asset-centric data model that could be developed to support a forward-looking asset-based information strategy. The project needed to establish the basis for an information platform that would enable the company to effectively manage their capital and operational expenditure for both above-ground and below-ground assets. http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1433

After a successful first year the WRc Instrument User Group (IUG) is set to continue as the UK Water Utility forum to share knowledge and experience on instrumentation related issues. http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1417

WRc has recently completed a two year Portfolio project to investigate the impacts of distribution mains rehabilitation on leakage and repair rates. http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1422

There is a wide range of pesticides of increasing concern to water supply, in relation to meeting the regulatory standard of 0.1 µg/l for individual pesticides and 0.5 µg/l for total pesticides. http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1409

WRc has received excellent feedback on a collaborative portfolio project assessing the major developments within the UK CCTV sewer inspection market and reviewing the new techniques currently entering the market. http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1424

WRc are currently running a Portfolio project that will provide participants with guidance on managing pitch fibre pipes to comply with UK legislation and specify the best technical rehabilitation solution for specific applications. http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1420

A collaborative project (CP371) involving 6 water companies has finished its first phase. This identified and tested 6 inspection techniques that appear to offer significant benefits in the detection and location of actual or potential structural fault before total failure occurs. http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1421

WRc will be drafting the 7th edition, with the support of a working group of water utility experts. Work on redrafting will commence in April 2010. The 7th Edition of CESWI will be available in hard copy and electronic formats early in 2011. http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1410

WRc is pleased to have recently signed Framework Agreements with several major REACH consortia to complete work for their registrations and assist them in continuing to use the chemicals which are important to their business. 2010 will mark the final year before the first REACH deadline and WRc has been proactively working with companies to achieve their targets. http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1412

WRc have provided bespoke interactive training sessions in wastewater treatment and sewerage systems to North East Region Environment Agency staff to supplement internal training courses for Environment Officers. http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1432

Many small UK sewage treatment works are now required to meet discharge consents that include limits on phosphorus and nitrogen concentrations. Technologies for phosphorus removal from wastewater are well established, but to achieve the lowest concentrations required in some discharge consents, addition of iron or aluminium salts is generally used to remove phosphorus in a robust and reliable manner. Concerns about the sustainability of using these methods have been linked to resource use, availability, transport, emissions and incorporation in sludges. http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1426

There are many drivers for managing wastes in a more sustainable way than consigning them to landfill. This has led to an expansion in the types of wastes that are being treated and the treatment processes employed, including: composting, anaerobic digestion, mechanical-biological treatment (MBT), gasification and stabilisation. http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1430

As part of an environmental impact assessment on proposals to change raw sludge liming facilities at a UK wastewater treatment works, WRc were asked by the engineering consultant to determine the impact of odour emissions. http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1436

The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has issued a report from work providing evidence on the extent and impacts of spreading waste on land. The study informs policy options for appropriate levels of regulation and controls to mitigate environmental risk. http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1408

WRc has received funding from the Carbon Trust to continue work developing tools to support the water industry in updating pump management practice to take into account the need for energy efficiency and minimising whole life costs. http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1419

WRc have been awarded a contract by the Environment Agency to update and recalibrate the South East River Basin District SIMCAT model. http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1413

Following years of speculation and estimation, WRc are pleased to announce that at last statistically robust evidence is available regarding the true impact of water efficiency devices on flow rates and volume per use of appliances in the home, following the successful completion of WRc’s collaborative research project. http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1423

There are many techniques available to store or dissipate storm water which can include, for example, balancing ponds, infiltration ditches and underground tanks. WRc are running a collaborative Portfolio project that focuses on cells and arched chambers formed from plastic which are assembled to create an underground structure that can be used for either storm water storage or soak-away. http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1324

The Flood and Water Management Bill will require Water and Sewerage Companies (WaSCs) to co-operate and provide information to the local authorities and the Environment Agency (EA) so that they can fulfil their roles for local flood risk management. There will be additional costs as well as potential benefits to individual WaSCs associated with these requirements. http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1431

WRc is pleased to have recently signed Framework Agreements with several major REACH consortia to complete work for their registrations and assist them in continuing to use the chemicals which are important to their business. http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1393

In the letter of 5th August 2009 to Regulatory Directors of all water and sewerage companies and water only companies (PR09/32), Ofwat identified a number of key focus points for the water industry for the next price review. Among these is the recommendation to develop an ‘understanding of the spatial and temporal variability of the consequences of failure alongside operational responses.’ http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1375

WRc are pleased to announce the launch of their online water calculator which follows the methodology provided in CLG’s ‘The Water Efficiency Calculator for new dwellings’. http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1371

When low pressure events occur, background information will be collected in order to identify a cause. Examples of possible causes are a pump stopping or a large burst. These events will be investigated... http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1376

WRc has recently completed a 5th phase of monitoring work in conjunction with South East Water for their ‘Savings on Tap’ trial in Kent. http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1378

WRc has recently completed a study reviewing technical regulation in relation to water services in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). The study involved a benchmarking exercise to compare technical regulation in ACT with that in England and Wales. http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1386

WRc has been awarded a project by UKWIR to develop guidance for use by Developers, Self-Lay Organisations, Water Undertakers and consultants when planning, designing and constructing water mains and services in brownfield sites. http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1377

The project builds on work undertaken in 2007 within the WRc Portfolio project: CP303 -The Real Benefits of Pressure Management. Under CP303 WRc collected and analysed data from a number of water companies and established and quantified relationships between pressure management and leakage, bursts, minimum night flow, natural rate of rise, customer complaints, and levels of service. http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1383

There are over 165,000 sewer blockages on public sewer every year and over 30,000 cause flooding, 3,900 of them inside buildings. With such a large problem it is surprising that the mechanisms of sewer blockage are not properly understood. With the urgent need to introduce more water saving technologies it is essential that this is understood so that design rules can be changed to meet the new circumstances. http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1385

The UK water industry uses a huge 7700 Gigawatt-hours of electrical energy each year, equivalent to 4 million tons of CO2. Most of this energy goes into electric motors to do essential jobs such as pumping water and aerating wastewater. An exciting project starting at WRc will help tackle the reduction of this energy use, by providing a new tool to measure the power used by electric motors. http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1374

WRc has started a Portfolio project (CP393) to develop a software tool for predicting GAC bed life with greater confidence to allow regeneration frequency and operating cost to be reduced. http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1379

WRc has started a Portfolio project in collaboration with three water companies to provide a cost effective method for monitoring dissolved oxygen (DO) to give information on water quality risk and mixing in networks. http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1373

WRc and Umweltbundesamt GmbH (UBA, Austria) have been reappointed by the European Commission DG Environment to provide technical support for the implementation of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD) for the next three years. http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1380

WRc has been awarded a contract by Severn Trent Water to develop a new GIS SIMCAT model for the River Trent Catchment. The model will be developed with the support of the Environment Agency. The study follows on from an earlier study, funded by the Environment Agency, to develop a similar model for the River Severn Catchment. http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1372

WRc are pleased to announce an extension of their WRc Approved™ scheme to include fats, oils and grease (FOG) minimisation and waste food composting products. http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1381

WRc has been employed by Defra, as part of a consortium led by CIRIA, which also includes HR Wallingford and Pennine Water Group to produce draft standards and guidance. http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1384

Since 2004, WRc has been the European Commission’s main contractor for support in the development and practical implementation of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) through the Common Implementation Strategy (CIS). WRc leads a consortium of European experts and institutions to provide the necessary expertise to cover all EU 27 Member States and the 23 official languages of the EU.http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1359

Among a stream of applications that the WRc Approved Scheme receive are three that achieved their certificate in June. They represent a variegated bunch of products typical of those coming forward to WRc. http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1355

All of the water companies in England and Wales are required by the regulator to collect and maintain data at an acceptable level of quality so that investment decisions can be justified. The WRc Portfolio Project “Getting Value from Data” is developing approaches that will assist companies in better targeting and realising benefit from data improvement programmes.http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1358

The small drains and small sewers around property are far more likely to suffer a blockage than larger sewers. In some cases these blockages lead to internal sewage flooding of property.http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1357

Expansion of the waste and resource business area in 2007/08 means that WRc now has a much larger dedicated waste testing laboratory within our Phase 3 facility. http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1356

WRc are launching an online water calculator which follows the methodology provided in CLG’s ‘The Water Efficiency Calculator for new dwellings’ for assessing water efficiency in new dwellings in support of The Code for Sustainable Homes and the new Part G of the Building Regulations.http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1353

Several million water meters will be installed in the next AMP and many will include automatic meter reading (AMR) technologies. Widescale deployment of such equipment is a multi-million pound investment so selecting the right equipment is essential. WRc has a strong reputation for providing robust independent evaluations against users’ requirements. So, when United Utilities needed an independent assessment of meters and AMR equipment from three suppliers, they approached us.http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1354

The Environment Agency is required to produce information on the composition, quantities, origins and destinations of current and predicted future arisings of waste streams, including commercial & industrial, household and construction and demolition. This information is needed for EU Waste Statistics Regulations, to inform the new Waste Strategy review, and also for the public and private sectors to plan future waste recycling and disposal facilities in order to divert waste away from landfill.http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1352

Over the past two years the National Centre for Environmental Toxicology (NCET) has been working with a number of industrial and retail organisations to provide technical advice and consultancy relevant to the requirements of Regulation (EC) No, 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH). http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1351

As part of their ongoing programme to tackle leakage in their trunk mains this year (2009/10), Thames Water Utilities Ltd has awarded a contract to WRc Pipeline Inspection to provide a full time Sahara® Leak Location survey team. http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1270

United Utilities Water Plc has embarked on a 4 year Trunk Mains Cleansing programme on its strategic Aqueducts that supply water to the North West of England including Liverpool and Greater Manchester. http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1251

The Earth Summit is an annual event organised by Swindon Borough Council in partnership with the National Trust, Thames Water, WRc, Wiltshire Wildlife Trust and The Ridgeway School. Its aim is for year 5 pupils across Swindon to learn about sustainable living. Children attend workshops on a variety of issues, from renewable energy to recycling, and from transport to fair trade. http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1348

Part G of the Building Regulations was successfully launched on the 9th June by Communities & Local Government (CLG) at One Great George Street. http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1347

WRc has recently completed a major programme of investment to upgrade facilities at its water treatment pilot plant at Swindon. New equipment includes: a 30,000 litre raw water storage tank, recirculation pumps, temperature control, pilot filtration columns and chemical dosing facilities. A range of instrumentation has also been installed including: particle counters, turbidimeters and associated datalogging. http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1339

Innovation consultancy WRc has successfully gained ISO 14001 accreditation. ISO 14001 was first published as a standard in 1996 and specifies the requirements for an organisation's environmental management system. It applies to those environmental aspects over which an organisation has control and where it can be expected to have an influence. http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1337

Since 2004, WRc has been the European Commission’s main contractor for support in the development and practical implementation of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) through the Common Implementation Strategy (CIS). WRc has led a consortium of European experts and institutions to provide the necessary expertise to cover all EU 27 Member States and the 23 official languages of the EU. http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1338

WRc has embarked on another year of training Environment Agency water quality planners in the use of some of the tools of their trade. WRc has provided this training for a number of years and almost 50 people have benefited in the past year with arrangements already made for a further three courses before March 2010. .http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1336

Innovative research-based consultancy WRc has appointed Amanda Burch to head its Wastewater division. Amanda joins WRc from Thames Water where she was responsible for delivering water treatment designs for the London area. http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1335

This week, enhanced hot water safety and water efficiency measures for all new homes were announced by Housing Minister Iain Wright with changes to Part G of the Building Regulations. .http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1334

WRc has appointed Mark Johnson to head its Waste and Resource Management area. Mark joins WRc from Biffa where he was responsible for a number of different waste management facilities.http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1331

WRc has been contracted by Dumfries & Galloway Council to undertake continuous monitoring of their waste processing facilities based in Dumfries- the Ecodeco MBT plant at Locharmoss and the Galdenoch MBT Composting plant at Stranraer. http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1321

UKWIR have commissioned WRc to undertake an important research programme to provide the UK water and wastewater undertakings with information on the likely nature and impact of the introduction by the Environment Agency of a new approach, designated Environmental Protection – Operator Pollution Risk Appraisal (EP OPRA). http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1298

WRc has recently completed a market survey for a company that has developed a range of catalytic oxidisers. These remarkable chemicals are able to breakdown otherwise recalcitrant organics and to increase the rate of breakdown of less problematical contaminants. http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1299

WRc have worked with United Utilities (UU) and strategy consultancy - Catalyze, on the development of a Policy Prioritisation Management Tool (PPMT) to aid UU’s decision making processes in business planning. The tool allows UU to construct the most efficient and cost beneficial mix of strategies or projects across the business or within a particular area taking into account benefits applying to different stakeholders. http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1320

All of the water companies in England and Wales are required to provide data to the financial regulator, Ofwat, via the ‘June return’. This data includes a variety of measures covering all activities of the companies and is useful for analysing trends in performance within a company and benchmarking against others. http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1297

With Ofwat planning to set annual water efficiency targets for each water company for AMP5, which will replace the voluntary targets set out in 2008/09, the focus on water efficiency activities has never been so intense.< a href="http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1276" target="_blank">http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1276

The Sewerage Rehabilitation Manual 4th Edition has now been extensively revised, updated, extended and developed into the Sewerage Risk Management website. http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1268

WRc have been appointed to Framework as part of consortium with CIRIA, HR Wallingford, BSRIA, MWH Global, Exeter University & Black & Veatch. The Building Division in Communities and Local Government (CLG) has re-appointed WRc as part of consortium with others to support them under a 5-year Framework Agreement http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1296

The Planning Directorate (PD) in Communities and Local Government (CLG) has appointed WRc, together with CIRIA & Royal Haskoning to support them under a 2-year Framework Agreement to undertake original research in order to ... http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1295

Chlorine is relatively inexpensive, easy to apply and has played a major role in preventing the spread of waterborne disease. However, concerns over its safety in gaseous form, reactions with organic matter in water to produce disinfection by-products, and its association with taste and odour complaints, have led to consideration of alternatives for water treatment and distribution. http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1294

WRc has recently completed a SIMCAT pilot study for the South Western River Basin District (SWRBD) in Ireland. The Environment Agency, in England and Wales, has developed its SIMCAT water quality modelling tool, with assistance from WRc, to support decision making for river water quality management and the development of Water Framework Directive River Basin Management Plans. http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1291

Following feedback from STORMPAC™ users, WRc plc are pleased to announce that STORMPAC™ v4.0 is now available. The latest version of the Water Industry standard rainfall modelling and analysis package used to process rainfall data for sewer models now has more output and summary rainfall statistics options. http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1253

As part of their ongoing programme to tackle leakage in their trunk mains this year (2008/9), Thames Water Utilities Ltd has awarded a contract to WRc Pipeline Inspection to provide a full time Sahara® Leak Location survey team. http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1270

WRc, the water and environment consultancy is conducting a research project aimed at improving the understanding of the relationship between regulatory inspections and compliance on behalf of the Scotland & Northern Ireland Forum for Environmental Research (‘SNIFFER’). http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=840

In response to the Pitt review of the summer of 2007 flooding, The Government (Defra) is funding the development of guidance on the preparation of Surface Water Management Plans (SWMPs). http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1292

A literature review carried out by WRc looked at possible alternative chemicals for plumbosolvency control. This review identified stannous chloride as a possible practical and economic alternative. http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1275

With Ofwat planning to set annual water efficiency targets for each water company for AMP5, which will replace the voluntary targets set out in 2008/09, the focus on water efficiency activities has never been so intense. This project will collect micro-component data, using WRc’s Identiflow® system, from a sample of domestic properties before and after water saving devices are installed. .http://www.wrcplc.co.uk/default.aspx?item=1276