Morrison Utility Services (MUS), the leading utility services provider in the UK, has extended its ‘calm networks’ training initiative following commissions from clients Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water and Northumbrian Water for its state-of-the-art pressure transient valve training rigs.

 The innovative rigs – essentially simulating live water network conditions – will be used to educate network teams on the safe operation of valves, hydrants and PRVs and how improved distribution network valve operation methods can be used to avoid or substantially reduce damaging transient pressure (water hammer).

The rigs consist of a closed loop of approximately 200m-long pipe coil fed by a heavy duty pump from a tank reservoir. Each rig can be adjusted to produce various flow velocities and pressures and enables network staff to see and understand how their actions affect the water pressure inside the pipe, as sensors installed on the rig send real-time data flashing onto a display monitor.

The rigs have been installed at Northumbrian Water’s Finchale House in Pity Me, County Durham, and at its Essex & Suffolk Water Hanningfield works near Chelmsford in Essex.  The rigs have also been installed at Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water’s Glascoed water treatment works in Bodelwyddan, North Wales, and Sluvad water treatment works in Newport, South Wales.

 Pressure transients in water networks have been a serious, long standing challenge for water companies for some time. Pressure transients often stem from network operations or interventions, particularly valve operations, hydrant operations and pump starts and stops, and the consequences of distribution network damage caused by poor operation of equipment are considerable – often leading to increased leakage and burst mains along with inevitable customer supply interruptions and water quality issues.

Paul Sirdifield, Network Services Area Supervisor for Northumbrian Water based in Essex said: 

“The new training centres will help us understand how our activities can impact on the network, which in turn will reduce our potential to cause burst water mains and discoloured water. This will help us improve on our key performance indicators and deliver even better service to our customers.”

Business Development Director Tim Sargent commented:

“Our pressure transient valve training rigs will provide our clients’ network staff with an opportunity to gain really valuable practical experience and understanding of how their handling of equipment can affect the network. The rigs are a really good illustration of how our innovation is enabling clients to reap tangible benefits such as reduced leakage and bursts that will enable them to deliver strong customer service and improved SIM performance.”