Southern Water has gone out to tender with an AMP7 clean water network optimisation contract worth an estimated £2.5 million in total.

According to Southern Water, its Clean Water directorate is facing “mounting pressure to improve performance” in relation to a number of operational measures, most notablyleakage.

The water company said that any projects commissioned as part of the Clean Water Network Optimisation programme must deliver significant identifiable benefits in both thecurrent year (22/23 – Year 3 of AMP7) that can be consolidated for the remainder of AMP7.

In its annual leakage target Southern Water is expecting to report a reduction in leakage for 10 to 15 Ml/d from Year 2 Year 3. As Year 3 is the baseline year for AMP8 funding,the water company said “it is critically important for Southern Water to meet this target.”

Some groundwork for delivering the benefits has already been completed through Phase 1 of the Advanced Pressure Management project, mains replacement schemes,enhanced find and fix effort and three projects undertaken by the water company’s partners.

The utility is now looking identify the best partner to take forward the next tranches of Clean Water Network Optimisation projects to continue to deliver benefits in a number ofareas, including:

• consolidated view of leakage operations
• smart meter data integration & continuous flow alarms
• performance of leak detection pinpointing
• trunk main burst mitigation and prevention
• data validation and consolidation of reporting within live dashboard environment

The new partner will be expected to provide:

• Demonstrable history of working with water companies and applying established and innovative approaches to challenges in the industry
• Combined experience in operational roles in water companies and consultancy experience providing advisory and implementation services
• Breadth to devise and implement technological as well as process, organisational and cultural solutions
• Ability to mobilise – at pace – a team with the capacity to deliver the scale of change needed to achieve Southern Water targets for AMP7 Year 3 and beyond
• Value for money in the proposed commercial arrangements

Initial contract term is 12 months with two further annual extension options available.

Time limit for receipt of tenders or requests to participate is 9 June 2022 – click here to access the tender documentation.

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