PRODUCT NEWS
The NADC Hydrant App – powered by eviFile
The drainage industry needs to extractwater fromhydrants as part of their essential operations to serve communities, through local authorities, individuals andwater companies. Typical activities include sewer and drain cleaning, gulley emptying, street sweeping andmany other necessary activities.
However there are issues and riskswhen using standpipes on the publicwater supply network for both public service contractors and for the water companies.
andwith day to day operational pressures operatorsmay feel obliged to use a non- designatedwashout orworse, use a fire hydrant whichwill also lead to prosecution.
The National Association of Drainage Contractors (NADC)workingwith eviFile and their digital progressive assurance platform, sought to address these issues by developing an innovative, but easy to use App for operators, thatwould not only ensure they used a correct authorised hydrant, but also captured relevant
cover, leaking hydrant,would be available not just to NADCmembers but also to thewater companies through the Hydrant App portal.
THE BENEFITS TODRAINAGE CONTRACTORS AREMANIFOLD:
IDENTIFICATIONOFNEARESTHYDRANT.
Any App user can easily identify the nearest authorised hydrant to their current location. Using the latitude and longitude coordinates fromthe device and the hydrant’s geo-location data, the Appwill identify the nearest hydrant.
Contractorswishing to extractwater froma hydrantmust use awater company approved standpipe and pay the relevant fee. Because of different hire arrangements and the complexity ofwater company boundaries it can be confusing for contractors operating across multiplewater company regions. Operators can inadvertently use an approvedwater company standpipe in thewrongwater company area and this is legally considered as theft ofwater. There are instanceswhere contractors have been prosecutedwith a fine of up to £1000 for each infringement, aswell as incurring reputational damage. Initial infringementswill result in awarning,multiple offenceswill lead to prosecution. Typical fines and costsmade recently by the Courts, as thewater companies have got tougher at policing the legislation, have ranged from£4500 - £7500.
The operators undertaking these abstractions can also face disciplinary action for any infringementwhether intentional or inadvertently. But they can find it difficult to identify nearby, authorisedwash out hydrants
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data on-site, includingwater used, asset condition and photographic evidence.
The systemwas trialled by FMConwaywithin the SouthernWater area, resulting in a collaboratively developed user-friendly systemtominimise the issues facedwith inadvertent incorrect usage.
Thiswas soon followedwith the addition of available authorised hydrant data from other companies including SouthWestWater (that now includes Bournemouth), PortsmouthWater, Affinity Water and South EastWater
Conscious that the Appwould require data (i.e., authorised hydrant locations and any restricted use times) fromthewater companies, itwas NADC’s intention that all data captured, such as asset condition and any faults, e.g., broken
| June 2021 |
www.draintraderltd.com
Linking directlywith the devices native navigation App, users are directed to the hydrant via themost efficient route possible. This saves journey time, fuel and removes the stress finding an authorised hydrant, especially
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