United Utilities has been sharing its approach to standard asset design with partners and colleagues across the water sector. The company’s engineering, maintenance and commercial teams held a ‘Collaboration for Standardisation’ event at the Halliwell Jones stadium in Warrington recently.

Known as ‘Project Blueprint’ the North West water and wastewater company is using standard assets to ensure quality assets are delivered to sites, quickly and safely, while providing better value for customers.

The aim of the event was to promote and improve the use of standard asset designs, products and solutions at United Utilities and across the wider water industry, encourage the industry to share designs, knowledge and resources for the benefit of customers, colleagues and the environment.

Standard assets are quicker to order and get onto site as they’re designed to suit multiple site scenarios and have a standard approach to maintenance and repair and the ability to incorporate new technologies or materials into standard products more flexibly.

The company showcased how it has reduced costs and carbon emissions by buying standard asset designs in bulk - including kiosk designs, pumps, panels and storm overflow chambers, saving 83 per cent in design time and 46 per cent in operational carbon in some cases.

Other water companies and more than 20 partners from across the supply chain attended on the day – including design and construction partners, some of which are already working with local businesses in the North West to develop standard assets for use on United Utilities’ next five-year investment programme (AMP8) from 2025 to 2030.

The event included stalls from two suppliers with which United Utilities is developing standard products: Evolution Aqua and Haigh. The suppliers demonstrated their technology on the day - Flocell (sustainable water filtration) and Fujiclean.

United Utilities Commercial Engineering and Capital Delivery Director, Jane Simpson, commented:

“Standardising our assets has been on our radar for some time, but with AMP8 around the corner it’s never been more important for upgrading sites and equipment safely and quickly as part of our huge investment proposals.

“We want high performing assets which are quicker to design and get on site, make life easier for operational colleagues, reduce our carbon footprint, and deliver greater value for customers.

“It’s brilliant to see the same drive and commitment from our supply chain and colleagues across the water sector and by sharing our knowledge, we’re able to innovate quickly together in the spirit of true collaboration, for a stronger, greener and healthier North West.”