Thames Water has secured £9.5 million for two innovative projects aimed at addressing key challenges in the water sector. These initiatives are part of the sixth Water Breakthrough Challenge, funded by Ofwat’s Water Innovation Fund, which has allocated £58 million to 19 different projects.
Innovative Water Supply Projects
The first project, valued at £1.9 million, will assess the effects of extending planned water supply interruptions from three hours to a maximum of 12 hours. This change aims to explore new in-pipe repair and renewal techniques. Key partners in this initiative include:
- Yorkshire Water Services
- United Utilities
- South West Water
- Sutton and East Surrey Water
- Stantec UK
This project seeks to minimize road disruptions, noise pollution, carbon emissions, and costs while enhancing the efficiency of renewing aging infrastructure. It will also gather feedback from customers to understand their perspectives on longer supply interruptions compared to the benefits of less intrusive work.
Martin Padley, Water Director at Thames Water, noted that this project presents an excellent opportunity to improve customer experiences during major network upgrades, enhancing service delivery while reducing community disruption.
Sustainable Drainage Systems Initiative
The second significant project is focused on developing a new market-based approach for sustainable drainage systems (SuDS), in collaboration with the Greater London Authority (GLA). This project has an estimated value of £7.6 million and aims to establish the UK’s first environmental services market for SuDS.
In London, approximately 186,000 street works occur annually to maintain utility networks and highways. The goal of this initiative is to incentivize utility companies to integrate SuDS, such as raingardens, into their street works, thereby reducing surface water flood risks and minimizing disruptive activities.
Alex Nickson, Head of Environmental Compliance and Water Quality at Thames Water, emphasized that the funding will facilitate the operationalization of this market, transforming the planning and delivery of sustainable drainage systems across London.
Supporting Infrastructure Resilience
Jules Pipe CBE, Deputy Mayor for Planning at the GLA, remarked on the increasing threat of surface water flooding in London, which endangers over 320,000 properties. He praised the funding’s potential to improve infrastructure planning and delivery, fostering a more resilient and sustainable urban environment.
Through these pioneering projects, Thames Water aims to enhance both water management and environmental sustainability, demonstrating a commitment to innovate in the face of growing challenges.
