Urban locations worldwide are struggling to manage stormwater drainage, in the face of extreme weather. The opportunity appears vast, for those who can help solve the problem, as Envirotec writes.

“Managing too much water” is the biggest challenge facing UK water utilities today, according to Bluetech Research director Paul O’ Callaghan, during his opening address at the group’s flagship event in Edinburgh in June.¹ It’s a problem where the public is becoming increasingly impatient, and the regulator is putting on pressure. It’s also a pressure point where the coping costs are astronomically high, and he cited estimates that the cost of flooding in the US is US$400 billion.

It was one of “eight areas for opportunity” in water technology outlined in his talk, with other big ones including “water reuse”. That’s the problem with water, you either have too much or too little of the stuff.

When it comes to avoiding inundation, well-designed infrastructure is obviously important, but the sheer quantity of rainfall that can now fall without warning in many places clearly complicates things.

Climate change is expected to bring a more variable water cycle,² with weather conditions veering towards extremes of dryness and wetness. And this seems to be a key factor in the increasing difficulties being faced worldwide, when it comes to managing the hydraulic capacity of sewer and stormwater networks. In New York, for example, where CSO pollution in the harbour had caused public disquiet 15 years ago, a problem that was subsequently resolved, the issue of sewer security and stormwater management seems to be once more climbing the agenda, following a series of unprecedented storms.³

Senescent structures
Sewer security is a growing problem worldwide, although it seems especially acute in the UK, attributable in part to the proportion of the nation’s sewer network that is combined with stormwater, in contrast to the US, for example, where sewer and stormwater networks seem to be mostly separate. While overflows can occur with both combined and separate sewage networks, the CSOs are obviously more vulnerable to extreme weather. They are also more often associated with older cities.

One country with more of them than the UK is Italy. However, a more likely flashpoint of public disapproval seems to be wastewater treatment, with only a little over half of the country’s wastewater currently being treated to EU standards.⁴

Globally, the regulation is becoming tighter and more specific, which is driving the urgency of tackling the problem.

In the UK this also includes mandatory levels of investment, with Defra’s National Storm Overflow Plan, for example, having earmarked more than £10 billion for storm overflow improvements – triple the previous level of investment.

But there’s a potentially big price tag. For example, completely removing and replacing CSOs, would require an entirely new sewer network costing up to £600 billion⁴ and widespread, disruptive roadworks over many decades, according to a recent white paper on sewer security published by Global Water Intelligence in collaboration with Grundfos. So, there is a need to target fixes and solutions, to achieve a balance between improved sewer security outcomes and economics (and customer bills).⁵

Defra’s recent (2022) plan requires utilities to make improvements in sewage release from combined systems, and sets out specific requirements, although some of these appear ambiguous or difficult to police. For example, water companies will only be allowed to discharge from storm overflows where they can demonstrate there is no local adverse ecological impact. In a recent book,⁶ Dr Julian Doberski wonders whether such a thing is even possible.

In any case, the pace and scope of change hasn’t been sufficient to satisfy many environmental pressure groups.

When it comes to the way the issue is being perceived by the wider world, problems of under-ambition and even neglect seem to take a far more prominent place, and this certainly ratchets up the pressure on utilities to find solutions quickly.

Ofwat’s recent investigation into water companies’ conduct highlights systemic problems and a failure to invest in water infrastructure, with fines of £168 million having been handed out to Thames Water, Yorkshire Water, and Northumbrian Water in July.

As the CIWM’s Policy Director Alastair Chisholm commented in August: “Historic abuses by water companies and failures by regulators to keep them in check mean there is now a rearguard action to remedy the damage,billed as ‘record investment’. Whilst this is necessary, it cannot come without wide and deep, meaningful change.”

He called for “considerable investment over the long-term, allied with far stronger, yet outcomes-focused regulation that prioritises the necessary actions, catchment-by-catchment, to begin the process of recovering the health and resilience of our waters.”⁷

A considerably strengthened environmental regulator was another necessary ingredient suggested by Chisholm and others.

But the question of what constitutes success in achieving “sewer security” seems to have more complexity than a straightforward focus on “number of spills”, and there seems to be some distance still to travel to properly understand it, and to find solutions.

Sizing up the problem
One aspect of the question of “how to get there” can be addressed by a combination of short-term and long-term interventions. For example, short-term fixes include using disinfection at CSOs, or digital tools to better understand and pre-empt outfalls, while longer-term ones such as building new infrastructure are also getting underway.⁸

At a discussion session on “Sewer Security” at BlueTech Forum in June, delegates shared views on the various pieces of the puzzle. Chaired by Phil Tomlinson of water technology firm Grundfos, he opened the session with a nod to the fact that maybe technology alone can’t solve the problem, that it’s not just about “cool stuff”.

One delegate indicated problems with the way the issue is being perceived. There has been some fair criticism of the regulatory environment, and a lot of opprobrium focused on English utilities. It’s not a new problem, although it has become more acute given the intense rainfall, and the “monsoon-style events” of recent years. What’s not being picked up enough is that a lot of the work being done on the ground by utilities has been good, he said.

“I don’t think we understand the problem properly,” said one participant.

A first line-of defence in this respect would seem to be monitoring CSOs. Nearly all of these are monitored in England, but there are outstanding issues regarding the usefulness of this activity, suggested participants in the discussion. For example, how do we access, utilise, store and act on this data? Also, how might you get the data quickly enough to act on it?

Digital tools are one way to identify pain-points and high-risk areas in the network, offering a way to prioritize remedial work and reduce costs, through the use of IoT sensors and analytics. The GWI/Grundfos white paper gives the example of Grand Rapids (Michigan, US) where the city had already completed a sewer separation project in 2015, but needed a better understanding of inflow and filtration in the network, to meet a regulatory requirement (which mandated that there be zero overflow events of any kind, except during a wet weather event exceeding a 24-hour, 25-year storm). The use of digital tools allowed inflow and filtration issues to be solved for $30-50 million, compared to initial estimates of $1 billion.⁹

Maximizing hydraulic capacity
One direction of travel seems to be the use of digital technology to make the most of the capacity available in the network, or to allow the use of additional infrastructure features, which might include canals, as is the case with Glasgow’s Smart Canal system (see side panel “Smart canals”, at the end of this article).¹⁰

Presenting at the Bluetech event, Dr Sonja Ostojin, Head of Innovation with Environmental Monitoring Solutions (EMS), summarized the UK’s storm overflow challenge. Solutions are needed quickly, she said, and the old-style grey ones, like building a massive tank, “won’t work this time”.

Her own group’s Centaur monitoring and control system uses AI to respond to storm water in the system “in real-time”. Gates are used to control the flow through the system, which means capacity within the pipe network can be used to store some of it, preventing spills from storm overflows.

Centaur has been deployed in a few locations since 2017, and is being demonstrated in the EU’s REWAISE project, which aims to address hydraulic capacity issues in wastewater networks. Southern Water has trialled the approach in Kent and the Isle of Wight, and the group’s Keith Herbert has said “it has the potential to be a gamechanger as it is more cost-effective and less carbon heavy than other methods like building storm tanks.”¹¹

Grey infrastructure initiatives like London’s Super Sewer have been the principal means of increasing the ability of sewers to handle increased flows. However, green infrastructure can prevent stormwater from entering the sewer system in the first place, and a growing shift towards this kind of solution seemed to be spotlighted at the BlueTech event.

Sponge cities
The concept of the “sponge city” involves a combination of these different forms of infrastructure, or so suggested the presentation given by Professor Kongjian Yu, credited as the pioneer of China’s sponge city movement, and the founder of Turenscape, a company specialising in this kind of urban infrastructure.

Much like a sponge, a sponge city can absorb stormwater, and then release it for water supply when needed.

Yu spoke about how the environment of cities can be transformed to retain water and create stunning urban landscapes. Grey infrastructure is still a key component in these sponge cities, but the concept implies a noticeable shift to blue and green infrastructure, with improvements in biodiversity and water services.

Scale and ambition certainly seem to underpin the concept, and in Shanghai it has been credited with delivering a multi-billion-dollar cost saving over traditional grey infrastructure.¹²

Since China’s national Sponge City Programme began in 2014, a first group of 20 cities has been targeted for development (following a June 2021 announcement), each receiving around $109-172 million from the central government. The programme intends that 80% of urban areas should meet the standard of retaining 70% of stormwater in situ by 2030, requiring an estimated investment of US$ 1 trillion.¹³

One apparent criticism of the concept, or at least, the insistence that it is not a panacea, comes from Professor Guangtao Fu of the University of Exeter, in a 2022 paper,¹⁴ which points out that a sponge city programme did not prevent the flooding in Zhengzhou in July 2021, when a year’s worth of rainfall occurred within 24 hours, causing a disaster that claimed 292 lives, and initiated a chain of failures including a loss of parts of the electricity network and subsequent paralysis of card and mobile payments.

The paper recommended measures such as resilience mapping, to identify acute pain points in the urban landscape. Its lessons seem to apply specifically to the Chinese situation, where gated communities are the norm, and includes building-level measures such as elevating the height at which electrical systems are positioned, and the use of water-proof materials when building walls to a level higher than the likely flood depth identified by resilience assessments.

Filtering on the fly
Green infrastructure techniques – like wetlands, permeable pavements, and green roofs – can slow down the flow of rainwater, ensuring its more gradual release into rivers and water features, and this seems a huge element of the sponge city concept. Some natural filtration will also occur, removing pollutants from rainwater.

Permeable pavements mean that rainwater can infiltrate the ground, reducing surface runoff and replenishing groundwater. They can help reduce flood risk while also serving to diminish heat island effects.

Similarly, urban wetlands can provide benefits, including reducing the flood risk to homes, promoting biodiversity, boosting air quality, and providing a recreational space.

In June, environmental charity Thames21 said it was working with partners and volunteers to make London a sponge city, through creating wetlands, planting trees and supporting sustainable drainage. One reported success is its ‘Rewilding the Rom’ project in Dagenham, in which a wetland has been developed to connect the River Rom to its floodplain, providing a better environment for wildlife.¹⁵

The CPRE’s Anna Taylor supported the call, highlighting “the urgent need for more rain gardens across the capital to reduce road-run off, ease the pressure on storm water drains, and help to reduce the risk of sewage overflow into our rivers.”

She added: “Sustainable urban drainage assessments should be bog standard when roadworks and streetscapes are being updated.”

Elsewhere in the UK, the Mansfield Sustainable Flood Resilience project was one of the projects which seemed to generate discussion at the BlueTech Forum event. It involves the installation of hundreds of sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) throughout the town, making it seemingly “the largest retrofit scheme of its kind in the UK”. This includes blue-green infrastructure intended to slow and store water, such as detention basins, bioswales, rain gardens, tree pits and permeable paving.

The project follows Severn Trent’s identification of the town as one of the most at-risk communities in Nottinghamshire, and it is expected to receive £76 million funding from the utility, providing additional storage capacity for surface water, and creating resilience in the network.

Technology solutions and infrastructure clearly seem to be important, but also just one part of the puzzle, and the Sewer Security discussion during Bluetech attached importance to many other factors, including: improving our understanding of the problem, and also communicating successfully about what needs to be done.

Those close to the problem seem to agree that there needs to be collaboration between a larger number of stakeholders. This could allow the creation of “more supportive and outcome-based regulation”, as the GWI/Grundfos white paper puts it. The document calls for a shift in the narrative of regulation, “away from number of spills and towards regulating overall water quality.

[ SIDE PANEL – Smart Canals ]

With automation, real-time control and weather forecasting, it is possible to make room for stormwater storage in the network, or other available infrastructure, pre-empting extreme weather events before they happen. This can help avoid the costs and carbon costs of additional grey infrastructure.

The North Glasgow Integrated Water Management System (NGIWMS), which opened in 2022, makes use of the Forth & Clyde Canal, receiving the excess stormwater runoff from new regeneration and development areas, then returning the canal to its normal level after the storm.

It was designed to ensure no flooding occurred elsewhere, and would not impact navigation the canal or waste water (which would impact abstraction license conditions).

The canal opened in 1790, providing a sea-to-sea navigation (the world’s first) between Glasgow and Edinburgh.

It uses a real-time hydraulic model in ICMLive software (essentially a digital twin of the canal), which receives data about rain forecasts and canal status from sensors on a SCADA network, predicting the additional storage that will be required, in advance of a rainfall, and automatically lowering canal water levels via actuated sluice gates.

One challenging aspect is the fact that weather forecasts decrease in accuracy when made ahead of time, while the drawdown of the canal itself takes a long time, around 18-hours to drawdown 100mm if all discharge sluices are fully open.

The model is continuously updated as new surface water connections are added with the appearance of new developments in the locality.

The system was designed and developed by AECOM in conjunction with Scottish Canals, Glasgow City Council and Scottish Water.

Notes
[1] BlueTech Forum 2024. Assembly Rooms, Edinburgh. 3-4 June 2024.
[2] “Sewer Security: Enabling resilient water infrastructure” white paper, Global Water Intelligence in collaboration with Grundfos, May 2024. See https://my.globalwaterintel-insights.com/l/2DC/SewerSecurity. [3] ibid [4] ibid [5] ibid [6] The Science of Sewage: What happens when we flush? By Julian Doberski. A Pimpernel Press book for Gemini Adult Books Ltd. Published in 2024. [7] Email, “CIWEM response to breaking news: Proposed Ofwat fines for water companies”, received on 6 August 2024.[8] “Sewer Security: Enabling resilient water infrastructure” white paper, Global Water Intelligence in collaboration with Grundfos, May 2024. See https://my.globalwaterintel-insights.com/l/2DC/SewerSecurity. [9] ibid [10] Glasgow’s Smart Canal (2022). Published: June 12, 2022. See https://waterprojectsonline.com/case-studies/smart-canal-2022/ [11] “Cutting edge technology to be piloted to help reduce storm overflows and flooding in Kent and the Isle of Wight”, Southern Water website. See https://www.southernwater.co.uk/latest-news/cutting-edge-technology-to-be-piloted-to-help-reduce-storm-overflows-and-flooding-in-kent-and-the-isle-of-wight/. [12] Press release. “Water industry needs common purpose, says Mark Fletcher”, from Wise On Water, 17 January 2022. [13] “Are sponge cities the solution to China’s growing urban flooding problems?”, by Guangtao Fu. In WIREs Water, October 2022. [14] ibid [15] “Call to make London a sponge city”. Press release, Thames21, June 2024.

The Cockett Wick Seawall Improvement scheme has been completed, said the Environment Agency on 15 August, describing a project that aims to provide protection against tidal flooding for more than 3,000 homes and businesses in one of the most vulnerable areas of the country.

With a £12m investment, the works include the placement of 14,000 tonnes of Norwegian granite, installation of over 150 steel piles and 330m of reinforced concrete footpath and seawall.

This scheme is a key part of the Essex and South Suffolk Shoreline Management Plan which aims to sustain the viability of the seaside communities. This scheme provides long term flood resilience, supporting aspirations for further growth and regeneration of seaside towns.

Now finished, the key objective of the project has been to provide an adaptive approach to meeting challenges from climate change. The new wall has been designed to maintain the sea views from the promenade and to account for the impacts of sea level rise and climate change by accommodating a further wall raising in 50 years’ time.

Decarbonisation was at the heart of decision making and was reached through collaboration with our contractor (BAM Nuttall) and design consultant (Jacobs). The design was amended to use 152 recycled steel tube piles rather than new steel sheet piles, saving approximately 1,000 tonnes of carbon. We ensured further carbon savings by transporting the revetment rock in 6 barge movements instead of 700 flatbed lorry loads, saving 48 tonnes of carbon. We have redistributed 1,200 tonnes of surplus rock to support several local collaboration projects with landowners to protect seawalls from erosion.

EA staff and contractors were engaged with community activities throughout the works. This included demonstrations at local schools, taking on two work experience students, raising £1,400 for a local charity and hosting regular drop-in sessions.

John Lindsay, Essex Coastal Engineer for the Environment Agency, said:

“We’re delighted that the Cockett Wick Seawall Improvements scheme is now finished. The work will make a real difference to providing long-term flood protection for the local community, protecting homes and businesses and supporting the future growth, investment and regeneration of Jaywick.

“We would like to thank the local community for their patience, support and cooperation during the completion of the works.”

Robert Harvey, Project Manager for BAM Nuttall, said:

“We are delighted to have worked collaboratively with the Environment Agency and Jacobs on the Cockett Wick project, providing a successful flood defence scheme for the area, with sustainability, innovation and the local area at its core, benefiting generations to come.”

Louise Oldfield-Trim, Project Manager for Jacobs, said:

“A key factor in the project’s success was the full commitment to collaboration by the entire team, including the Environment Agency, BAM and Jacobs. By prioritising sustainability at the forefront of the design, we developed an innovative scheme that achieved substantial carbon efficiencies. This essential cooperation throughout the design and construction stages ensured a smooth, cost-effective delivery.”

Floods Minister Emma Hardy said:

“The completion of the Cockett Wick Seawall Improvement project ensures thousands of homes and businesses in one of the most vulnerable areas of the country will receive better protection from the growing threat of tidal flooding.

“Protecting communities around the country from flooding, including those on the Essex coast, is one of our core priorities. That’s why this Government will launch a Flood Resilience Taskforce to turbocharge the delivery of flood defences, drainage systems and natural flood management schemes.”

A specially designed planter that captures, uses, and stores rainwater before slowly releasing it into drains has premiered at one of TransPennine Express’ (TPE’s) North Yorkshire stations.

The planter at Northallerton station captures water runoff from guttering before it can enter drains, helping to reduce the risk of local drainage networks being overwhelmed during storms, leading to flooding or pollution.

As well as storing water, the planter also provides multiple habitats including native wildflower planting, a bee hotel and deadwood zones, acting as a refuge and habitat for pollinators and other insects.

Steve Gilder, Environment Delivery Lead at TPE, said: “This is so much more than just a planter – it will provide so many benefits at Northallerton station, from increasing biodiversity and housing wildlife to reusing and attenuating rainwater, and combatting flooding.

“At TPE, we are committed to having a positive impact on the environment – and this is one of the many schemes you can expect to see on stations across our network that does just that.”

Made by ecology and horticulture specialists BioScapes, the planter will be trialled for six months, with the possibility of more being installed across the train operator’s network if successful.

Terry Smithson, Head of Nature Based Solutions at BioScapes, said: “It’s great to work with TransPennine Express as they enhance the area for biodiversity as well as enhancing the customer experience.

“There are new requirements on water companies, local authorities and lead local flood authorities to clean our waters and the SuDS system that we’ve installed here will take water off the roof and filter it through a specially developed soil.

“The plants will help to clean that water as well, so that when it comes out of the bottom of the unit, back into the drains, it’s much cleaner and much better for our waterways.”

TPE aims to lead and enable sustainable tourism and transport across the North of England and into Scotland through its commitment to sustainability.

More information is available on the train operator’s website: tpexpress.co.uk/about-us/sustainability/

The first WJA Trade Show taking place in September will provide a strong focus on key issues in the water jetting industry, including health and safety, training and innovations like robotic systems.

The first water jetting exhibition of its kind held by the Water Jetting Association takes place at the StoneX Stadium, North West London, on Thursday 12th September 2024.

The free event will have a strong international flavour with businesses from across Europe joining British exhibitors to showcase latest technologies and applications.

WJA experts and exhibitors will also be giving talks during the one-day event, which follows the WJA annual general meeting being held on Wednesday 11th of September.

Visitors already booked to attend the event come from industrial sectors that rely on water jetting applications, including drainage and water utilities, industrial cleaning, construction, maritime engineering and petrochemicals processing.

WJA Director Leanne Smith said: “We’re very pleased to have attracted such an exciting range of exhibitors to WJA Trade Show 2024.

“We’ve made it a free event because we want as many people from across the sectors that use water jetting to join us in shaping the future of our industry.”

The venue, the home of Saracens Rugby Club, is easy to reach, being located less than 10 minutes from the end of the M1 just off the North Circular Road, and there is free on-site parking for all visitors.

Water jetting contractors, equipment manufacturers, hire specialists, PPE suppliers, and training providers are among the wide range of exhibitors preparing to put on the water jetting show of the year.

WJA Trade Show 2024 organiser Lee O’Callaghan said: “There will be a large external display area where exhibitors will be presenting water jetting machines, including pumps, jetting units and vacuumation units, representing cutting edge technology in our industry.

“Visitors to the WJA Trade Show will be able to meet and network with leading experts and find out about new developments, for example in water jetting robotics, operative safety, and water jetting sustainability.

“A strong theme will be health and safety, as it always is with water jetting, so health and safety professionals who need to know more about safe application of water jetting techniques should definitely attend.”

Information about key developments in WJA support for the water jetting industry, including updates to the Red Code of Practice for drain and sewer jetting, and the launch, in 2024, of the new Pressure Washer Code of Practice, known as the Purple Code, will also be available.

Founded in 1980, the WJA is one of the world’s leading water jetting trade associations. Members include contractors, equipment manufacturers, equipment suppliers and hire specialists, training providers, and water jetting service users.

The WJA also has a City & Guilds accredited water jetting training programme delivered by WJA approved training providers and instructors in the UK and across the world.

WJA Trade Show 2024 visitors can book their free tickets online at: www.waterjetting.org.uk/tradeshow

This article contains paid for content produced in collaboration with The WJA Trade Show.

A new trade show dedicated to the industrial and commercial applications of water jetting is to be held in London in September.

The Water Jetting Association, the member organisation for the UK’s water jetting industry, is holding the free-to-attend event at the StoneX Stadium, North West London, on 12th September 2024.

The WJA Trade Show has already captured significant interest with 70% of the exhibition stands available snapped up.

Water jetting has become a vital technique widely used for cleaning, surface preparation, hydrodemolition, materials cutting and in the water industry for sewer unblocking.

Industries that rely heavily on water jetting include petrochemicals processing and oil and gas exploration and production for pipe, tank and process vessel cleaning.

WJA Director Leanne Smith said: “The water jetting industry is developing rapidly, so we believe now is the time for a trade show dedicated to its growing number of service suppliers, many of them WJA members, and customers.

“This is an important opportunity for exhibitors to showcase their capabilities and shape the future of our industry.

“We’re very pleased with the response, and we have more enquiries coming in from prospective exhibitors all the time. We’ve opened online bookings for free tickets and take-up is strong.

“We’ve made this a free-to-attend event so as many interested people as possible can come along and see the advantages of water jetting, and how important it is to use the technology safely.”

WJA Training and Safety Committee Member Lee O’Callaghan, one of the event organisers, said: “An exciting range of exhibitors are already booked to attend from the UK and overseas.

“The WJA Trade Show will be the place to see the latest developments in water jetting in all its forms, from pressure washing up to ultra-high pressure jetting, and all its applications.”Become an exhibitor or book free tickets for the WJA Trade Show. See the URL below.
www.waterjetting.org.uk/tradeshow

London will need to urgently become a ‘sponge city’ – a city better designed to absorb and hold rainwater – in order to ward off the negative impacts of the climate emergency, the organisers of London Rivers Week have urged.

The climate emergency has increased the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events and governments, businesses and communities must protect London’s rivers in order for them to be better prepared to tackle the impacts of droughts and floods brought on by the climate crisis.

The organisers* of the London Rivers Week festival, which takes place this Saturday 22^nd June to Sunday 30^th June, are urging policymakers, water companies, businesses, industry, environmental charities and the public to work together on making the city ‘sponge like’. The festival celebrates London’s rivers and has a packed programme of walks, talks and online seminars for everyone to get involved in.

Environmental charity Thames21, one of the lead coordinators of London Rivers Week, is already working with partners and volunteers to make London a sponge city. It has created wetlands, planted trees and supported sustainable drainage systems across London to help improve biodiversity and capture rainwater to reduce flood risks.

For instance, its ‘Rewilding the Rom’ project in Dagenham has seen the development of a wetland that connected the River Rom to its floodplain and turned this river into a healthy environment for wildlife.

Chris Coode, CEO at Thames21, said: “London has lost many of its green spaces to urban development and we urgently need more nature-based solutions such as wetlands to help tackle the impact of the climate emergency. Wetlands absorb excess rainfall, slow down water flow to rivers and reduce the risk of flooding to homes.

“These green spaces are essential for managing surface water and creating environments where water is naturally controlled.

“Spending time by the river has proven benefits for people’s health and well-being. This is a key theme of this year’s London Rivers Week, now in its eight year. By transforming London into a sponge city we enhance our rivers’ resilience to climate change and ensure that we can all benefit from our precious rivers.”

Anna Taylor, director at CPRE London, added: “We are keen to highlight the urgent need for more rain gardens across the capital to reduce road-run off, ease the pressure on storm water drains, and help to reduce the risk of sewage overflow into our rivers. There is an absolutely urgent need for action in this area!  Sustainable urban drainage assessments should be bog standard when roadworks and streetscapes are being updated.”

Joe Pecorelli, ZSL’s Freshwater Conservation Programme Manager, said: “Protecting spaces for nature in London doesn’t just make the city a more enjoyable space – it’s key to creating a better, more sustainable future for everyone living here. From decision-makers to the general public, we need everyone to be involved in building a more resilient London, and attending walks and talks, or even donning a pair of waders to get stuck in with a clean-up, is a great place for people to get started.”

A new trade show dedicated to the industrial and commercial applications of water jetting is to be held in London in September.

The Water Jetting Association, the member organisation for the water jetting industry in the UK, is organising the free-to-attend event at the StoneX Stadium, North West London, on 12^th September 2024.

The WJA Trade Show has already captured significant interest with almost all the exhibition stands available already snapped up.

There will be a strong international representation, with companies from the USA, Germany, Holland and Sweden joining British exhibitors at the event.

Water jetting has become a vital technique widely used for pressure washing and industrial cleaning, surface preparation, hydrodemolition, materials cutting and in the water industry for drain and sewer unblocking.

Industries that rely heavily on water jetting include drainage, maritime maintenance and construction – plus petrochemicals, oil and gas exploration, process manufacturing, and pharmaceuticals for production pipe, tank and process vessel cleaning.

WJA Director Leanne Smith said: “The water jetting industry is developing rapidly, so we believe now is the time for a trade show dedicated to its growing number of service suppliers, many of them WJA members, and customers.

“This is an important opportunity for exhibitors to showcase their capabilities and shape the future of our industry.

“We’re very pleased with the response, and have more enquiries coming in from prospective exhibitors all the time. We’ve opened online bookings for free tickets and take-up is strong.

“We’ve made this a free-to-attend event so as many interested people as possible can come along and see the advantages of water jetting, and how important it is to use the technology safely.”

WJA committee member Lee O’Callaghan, one of the event organisers, said: “An exciting range of exhibitors are already booked to attend from the UK and overseas.

“The WJA Trade Show will be the place to see the latest developments in water jetting in all its forms, from pressure washing up to ultra-high pressure jetting, and all its applications.

“It will also be an opportunity for industry professionals to come together and discuss key issues influencing our industry and the WJA will host presentations about our work, especially on water jetting safety.”

The WJA Trade Show is being supported by four sponsors – training provider Water Jet Training, pump and equipment manufacturer Flowplant, equipment manufacturer Aquajet UK, and equipment rental and sales specialist Doornbos UK.

Doornbos UK Managing Director James McCullagh said: “Until now, there’s been no show that displays the vital contribution water jetting makes to the industrial cleaning, surface preparation, demolition and materials cutting sectors.

“The WJA Trade Show is a perfect opportunity for service users and organisations with an interest in our industry to find out more about what’s at the cutting edge of water jetting.”

The wide range of exhibitors already booked in reflects how water jetting has become integral to maintenance processes across many industrial and commercial sectors.

High and ultra-high pressure jetting, at pressures up to and beyond 1,700 bar (25,000 pounds per square inch), are vital to tube, pipe and vessel cleaning in the petrochemicals industries, and hydrodemolition.

High pressure techniques, up to 608 bar (10,000 psi) are essential for cleaning drains and sewers. While low pressure water jetting, up to 207 bar (3,000 psi), also referred to as pressure washing, is used to clean cars and remove graffiti from walls.

Founded in 1980, the WJA is one of the world’s leading water jetting trade associations. Members include contractors, equipment manufacturers, equipment suppliers and hire specialists, training providers, and water jetting service users.

Its three water jetting codes of practice and the City & Guilds water jetting training programme they underpin are recognised in the UK and internationally for setting clear standards for safety and service quality.

Meanwhile, the WJA Water Jetting Injury Treatment Algorithm, based on academic research by leading doctors, is the world’s first best practice guide for treating water jet injuries, from first response to post-treatment recovery.

Get free tickets or become an exhibitor
To book free tickets to attend the event or enquire about taking one of the few remaining stands, go to: waterjetting.org.uk/tradeshow.

Or call the WJA: +44 (0) 208 320 1090. Email: tradeshow@waterjetting.org.uk.

A provider of innnovative drainage solutions, Jet Aire, has been named one of the winning partners in the Ofwat Breakthrough Innovation Challenge for its participation in a research project to develop the world’s first blockage clearing pipebots.

Working with Northumbrian Water Group, the University of Sheffield, as well as a number of other universities, WASC’s and suppliers, this project aims to find a way to proactively detect build-ups before they become a blockage, eradicating spills and sewer flooding and its devastating impact on customers.

The innovative technology will see a truly autonomous pipebot that will live in the sewer for 30 days at a stretch, patrolling to understand the network and detect blockage build-up, alerting maintenance teams.

There are over 40,000 incidents of internal and external sewer flooding in the UK every year which cause devastating damage to customers properties. A significant proportion of these are because of blockages in sewer pipes.

Dean Blackburn, North East Area Manager, Jet Aire said: “Current approaches using smart networks are reactive, based on detecting rising water levels in sewers to estimate where blockages might be. However, it is often too late to allow maintenance teams to locate and clear the blockage before flooding occurs. Pipebot makes this process proactive. We are very excited to be supporting this project which could be the first step in delivering the world’s first blockage clearing pipebots.”

Helen Campbell, Senior Director, Ofwat said: “There are big challenges in the water industry that must be solved, some are well known and others are less so. In our fourth Water Breakthrough Challenge we called for solutions with potential to deliver wide-scale, transformational change for customers, society and the environment – and that’s exactly what today’s winners have done. From raingardens to prevent flooding to green energy from treated sewage, innovations to cut the water sector’s carbon footprint to robots that patrol the pipe network, the winners are all helping shape a more sustainable and efficient water sector.”

The Water Breakthrough Challenge is part of a series of competitions from Ofwat, run by Challenge Works with Arup and Isle Utilities, designed to drive innovation and collaboration in the sector to benefit individuals, society and the environment.

It supports initiatives that help to tackle the biggest challenges facing the water sector, such as achieving net zero, protecting natural ecosystems and reducing leakage, as well as delivering value to society. 

For more information, visit: https://waterinnovation.challenges.org/breakthrough4/

West Oxfordshire District Council (WODC) in the UK recently refused a planning application on the grounds of flood risk. The proposed development included the construction of just a single dwelling within the village of Standlake. However, local campaigners were able to argue against the proposal with the benefit of groundwater level data provided by a continuous level logger that had been installed in the garden of an adjacent property. Instrumentation firm OTT HydroMet writes.

In this case, the developer took occasional manual measurements that were found to be of limited value in comparison with continuous readings from a professional borehole logger from OTT HydroMet.

“The groundwater level data was critically important to our case,” explains local campaigner Paula Gaffney. “The village of Standlake is heavily affected by flooding, so this is a major consideration in any proposed new development, but without evidence, it is difficult to draw reliable conclusions.

“For this reason, we dug two boreholes adjacent to the proposed development site and rented an OTT ecoLog 1000 water level logger from OTT HydroMet to take measurements automatically every 15 minutes, 24/7.

“This generated a continuous data stream that provided a wealth of information on local groundwater conditions, particularly when combined with rainfall data from the nearby Brize Norton meteorological station.

“Perhaps the most striking conclusion was the stark contrast between our continuous data stream and the developer’s occasional manual observations from the borehole that they had constructed in the middle of the proposed development site. In particular, the WODC Lowlands Planning Sub Committee were interested to note that the applicant’s water level observations did not coincide with any of the heavy rainfall events that took place.”

Standlake is located alongside the River Windrush, close to the point where it joins the River Thames. Village residents have become accustomed to regular flooding, which is mostly derived from rising groundwater. Drainage pipe ingress is also a problem and Thames Water frequently supplies tankers to help alleviate flood damage. However, Standlake is by no means unique with its flood-related challenges and since their success in fighting the development application, the campaigners have been contacted by other villages seeking help and advice on ways to handle planning applications in flood zones.

“Our recommendation is always to gather reliable data,” says Paula Gaffney. “The installation of the monitoring system was much easier than we initially anticipated. Digging the boreholes was probably the hardest part! The telephone support from OTT HydroMet was excellent – helping us to set the monitor to record the distance from ground surface to the water, which was occasionally near to zero, after heavy rain.

“Online access to the data via the Hydromet Cloud web portal provided by OTT Hydromet was also very useful. The ability to access real-time data in the cloud gave full and transparent data access to the WODC planning and drainage officers so that they could see the rapid rise of high water table events and the slow infiltration rate as ground water levels fell over several days.”

The OTT ecoLog 1000 comprises a data logger connected by cable to a stainless-steel probe containing a very stable ceramic pressure cell. The datalogger stores measurements locally, but also transmits encrypted data to a website that can be easily accessed by all stakeholders, providing transparent access to trustworthy data.

Explaining the importance of data reliability, Paula says: “The installation of the ecoLog was simple and intuitive, but we were keen for OTT’s support engineers to check the configuration, so that it could be relied upon as evidence. This contrasted starkly with the applicant’s manually derived measurements, which were obviously selective and, in some cases, could be erroneous.”

Oxfordshire County Council’s drainage engineer visited the site and determined that the logger’s data demonstrated the site to be outside the tolerance required for effective soakaways. He also noted the absence of readings by the applicant during or following flood events and suggested that the applicant should also operate an automatic borehole logger.

Summarising, Paula says: “We were very impressed with the diligence of the WODC Lowlands Planning Sub Committee, and obviously delighted that the evidence we provided empowered them to determine that the proposed development would result in unacceptable flood risk. In fact, one of the councillors remarked that this was the first time an application had been refused on the grounds of flood risk.”

Typical users of the OTT ecoLog 1000 include government agencies, flood managers, developers, local communities, highway managers, rail network operators, water companies and water resource managers, as well as consultants, academics and environmental researchers. However, OTT HydroMet’s Dr Liam Goodes says: “Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of extreme weather, so it seems likely that flood risk is set to become a greater issue in planning and development.

“Obviously, Planning decisions have to be informed by reliable facts, underpinned by accurate data. Groundwater levels can change quickly, so the OTT ecoLog offers all stakeholders, including councils, developers and local communities, an opportunity to create reliable evidence to ensure that planning decisions are fair and underpinned by science.”

A scheme to support flood-hit farmers must open as soon as possible, the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) has urged, after one of the wettest and stormiest winters in decades.

As spring blooms and lambing continues across the UK, thousands of acres of prime food-producing land remain submerged or waterlogged, following months of relentless rainfall and the wettest 12 month-period in 150 years.

February was the fourth wettest since records began in 1871 in England, with a rainfall total of 130mm representing 225% of the 1961 to 1990 long-term average, and there have been 10 named storms in recent months.

Some winter crops did not get planted, while others have been washed away, with conditions so poor many are already fearing for harvest this year. Most of the losses are uninsurable.

After storm Henk in early January the government announced that farmers who had suffered uninsurable damage to their land from that storm would be able to apply for grants of up to £25,000 through the Farming Recovery Fund.

But the fund is still not open, three months later, and the CLA is calling for urgent action.

CLA President Victoria Vyvyan said: “The fund is welcome but farmers need help right now and it must open as soon as possible.

“The impact of flooding on farm businesses up and down the country is profound, damaging infrastructure such as fencing and walls, contaminating soil and jeopardising environmental projects. Crops and livestock have been badly affected, and any reduction in domestic food production may lead to an increase in imports and prices.

“Farmers are dynamic and forward-thinking and are used to working with extreme weather, but the last few months have been especially difficult. The winter rainfall is pushing businesses to their limit and many fear for this entire cropping season.”

Landowners don’t receive compensation when the Environment Agency effectively floods their fields to protect downstream houses and villages, despite the harm to their crops and livelihoods, and the CLA is calling for more support to repair the damage.

Victoria added: “Years of poor management of watercourses and flood defences by the Environment Agency, often caused by lack of resources, means farmers are still unfairly shouldering the burden of flooding devastation.

“Farming businesses are willing to help protect homes and businesses from flooding by storing floodwater, but in turn there should be recognition of the added burdens on farmers with appropriate compensation.”

Somerset farmer Charlie Ainge said some of his arable fields had been under water for seven weeks over the winter, citing more intense rainfall patterns and a lack of maintenance work on the Somerset Levels by the Environment Agency as key factors.

Mr Ainge said: “This year has been terrible, and to still be under water in spring is unheard of. Our whole arable operation is on hold because there’s nowhere to drill, and we’ve reached the point where we’re seriously considering its long-term future.

“Our flock costs have also doubled as we’ve had to buy in fodder for our sheep, so financially it’s all hit us very hard. It leaves us with a massive tidy-up bill and the support is laughable.”

Stephen Watkins said his Worcestershire farm had experienced some of its worst flooding since 1947, making it impossible to plant sugar beet or potatoes in mid-March as normal.

Mr Watkins said: “We’re by the River Severn so do expect some issues, but it’s come over the flood levee twice, which is significant.

“Any government funding is time-consuming to apply for and difficult to comply with – we were told last time that we hadn’t take enough pictures. They need to get on and help us.”