Severn Trent Water are looking to find suppliers which have the technical capabilities to help improve its ability to monitor structural health of its wastewater assets to identify and address potential problems within its wastewater network.

Failure to do this could result in asset failure and lead to further problems including pollution and sewer flooding.

The water company believes that part of the solution to achieving this goal is to measure the stress on the asset to accurately ascertain its useful remaining life. Via measuring structural fatigue, Severn Trent would like to move into a proactive space for asset repair/replacement without causing disruption through asset failure.

The utility is now seeking to engage with multiple industries to identify potential suppliers who can provide technology that can digitise the surface fatigue of existing rising mains in order to transmit real time asset condition report and predict potential failure using modelling and AI software.

Currently Severn Trent does not have a similar solution within the business and is looking to trial solutions that will deliver the above outcomes.

Key requirements include:

• The solution must be strictly non-intrusive and easy to install, i.e. digitise the mains by retrofitting, non-invasively.
• A device that is capable of being rolled out with relative ease across STW’s prioritised sites — high risk associated for permanent monitoring — within the network and can work in conjunction with loggers to create a holistic landscape of asset health.

Severn Trent will look to run a proof of concept (PoC) trial for a minimum of at least 3 months by deploying ‘fit for purpose’ devices into its operational waste rising waste mains,.

The water company has pointed out that deployment of monitors in sewer environments brings its own challenges, including:

• potential for explosive atmospheres
• poor signal connectivity, being remote, highly dependent on battery technology
• need for devices to be maintenance free with straightforward installation procedures.

The successful solution will need to meet the technical challenges of producing a sensor with the necessary capabilities at a price point that justifies the business case for a potential large scale deployment.

According to Severn Trent, finding an appropriate solution will enable it to better understand the operational condition of its assets and to take necessary action proactively.

For more information click here to access the Prior Information Notice setting out Severn Trent’s requirements in detail