Northumbrian Water has gone out to tender with a contract for SONDE measuring devices turn-key service worth an estimated £1 million.

The water company’s modelling and assessment of its current Storm Overflows has established a quantity of 22 high priority locations within the Northumbrian Water Ltd (NWL) operating region. This includes two main cluster locations (urban and rural) with a current estimate of circa 27 actual monitoring solution deployments considering clustering opportunities.

NWL now require the provision of a turn-key service to provide SONDE measuring devices, deployment, installation, monitoring, calibration and data collection at these locations.

The utility has committed to implement Water Quality monitoring at its highest priority Storm Overflow locations by 2025 to deliver River Pledge 4 contributing zero pollutions from its assets and operations.

Based upon its current guidance NWL are seeking deployment of either a suitcase or kiosk monitoring solution being located up and down stream of the prioritized Storm Overflows.

The deployment options are:

• Suitcase - This option could be powered by solar and or battery and is implemented when there is no direct/easy access to fixed generation.
• Kiosk - A fixed option that will be fitted in a cabinet style and can be powered using a power source from a NWL owned asset, solar option and or fuel cell. This is the preferred option for locations with access to fixed generation.

Knowledge and experience gained through the delivery of River Pledge 4 will strategically inform the business on Defra guidance regarding the WINEP River Water Quality Monitoring delivery programme throughout AMP8 and AMP9 periods.

The project is set to start in Q4 2023, with an anticipated duration in the region of a 3-year scheme – NWL is looking to appoint up to three suppliers. Frameworks will be awarded for a duration of an initial term of three years with the option to extend by up to an additional five years

Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate is 14 July 2023 – click here to access the tender documentation.