Yorkshire Water and partners have been awarded £193,000 by Ofwat to develop a cost effective and environmentally friendly pipe lining solution, in a project called ‘Designer Liner’.

Pipe lining is 50% cheaper than the more traditional method of digging up and replacing old pipes. It also generates less carbon and reduces disruption for customers because there’s less need to dig up the road.

Yorkshire Water has identified a gap in the current market for a lining solution that is fit for a 21st century water network. Seven water companies, led by Yorkshire Water, will collaborate to develop lining to help pipes last longer and that complements other technologies, like smart networks and devices.

If successful, the lining will also make bursts less likely, road works less frequent and allow water companies to understand their networks more than ever.

Chris Offer, director of strategy and regulation at Yorkshire Water, said:

“Pipe lining is a fantastic alternative to digging and replacing pipes: it’s cheaper, less disruptive and offers large carbon savings. However, we need new lining solutions that have both an enhanced lifespan and deliver performance that meets the demands of a 21st century water network. This ambitious project offers a unique opportunity to collaborate with others to define what we need from a new lining solution, and ultimately deliver this to market.”

Designer Liner is one of 13 projects awarded a total of £5.2 million of funding by Ofwat’s Water Breakthrough Challenge using new technology and cross-sector collaborations to improve water quality, reduce pollution and enhance services for consumers.