THE MAGAZINE FOR THE DRAINAGE, WATER & WASTEWATER INDUSTRIES
EDITORS PICKS
turned up by Ofwat over the past few years, since it introduced its PR19 regulations, however, we know that just 20 percent of water companies are registered to LSBUD. This means that up to 350,000 kilometres of water pipelines across the UK are currently unavailable at the point when someone taking on a digging project searches for underground asset plans. When you take into account that 90 percent of electricity networks and 100 percent of major gas DNOs are registered through the LSBUD portal, you can see the stark difference in the proactive defence against accidental damage.
So, what’s holding water companies back from fully committing to safety?
Misconceptions
In most cases, when underground assets are being laid, water pipelines are located at the foot of the trench. This means that while it does happen, it is unlikely that the first thing a spade or digger bucket will hit
is the water pipe. Someone digging blind is more likely to hit a broadband or electricity cable, or a gas pipeline first.
This ‘I’m sure we will be alright’, laisse-faire attitude is one of the reasons why water companies are still struggling when it comes to third party strikes, and are only now starting to recognise the benefits of sharing their data, and proactively protecting their assets.
Lack of Risk
Hitting a water pipe does not have the same immediate and obvious health and safety implications for those digging as a high-pressure chemical, gas or electricity strike does. Accordingly, the culture of safe digging has not been such a strong driver for improved data sharing from the water sector.
Again, this is understandable, but short- sighted. Whilst a jet of water poses less immediate risk to someone compared to a fuel pipeline exploding, it does still pose a risk, and being reactive rather than proactive will end up costing water
companies, whether it be financial or from a health and safety perspective.
Adding on Cost
On one hand, the industry understands the importance of safe digging. Damaged water mains can lead to service disruptions, impacting homes, businesses, and critical services. It also puts reputations on the line. Indeed, the media are quick to publish scathing articles and perform ‘deep dives’ into the water industry, creating a lack of trust with the general public.
The conflict arises though when implementing these best practices. Locating buried utilities with services like Cable Detection Services (CADS) adds an extra step to the process. Hand excavation near critical lines, while essential, is slower than using heavy machinery. These factors can strain project budgets and timelines. The pressure to complete projects quickly can also create a temptation to bypass vital safety measures – a gamble with potentially disastrous consequences.
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October 2024 |
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