Elaine Coles, Managing Editor of Waterbriefing, discusses the results of the first of Waterbriefing’s keynote surveys on how Totex is operating in AMP6 in more detail – the survey has revealed a significant gap between perception and reality amongst a wide range of stakeholders in the UK water sector.

Elaine Coles: Waterbriefing launched the first of a series of surveys in October 2015 aimed at exploring key operational and strategic issues during AMP6 – with a particular focus on the impact Totex is having on the water sector.

The survey programme was launched in the early stages of AMP6 to determine to what extent a Totex approach is creating a different mindset and prompting the water companies to re-examine current practice regarding the maintenance of existing assets.

In addition to a obtaining  a ‘snapshot’ of water company readiness for Totex principles at the start of AMP6, the survey also had a particular focus on grit removal  - a process area with a potentially significant impact on plant operation and maintenance. The survey was conducted in association with Hydro International. We are grateful for their support and input, and especially for their expert help and advice on the subject of grit removal.

Investigating the level of awareness around an everyday operational issue and its perceived impact on operational effectiveness – with cost, carbon and energy as key issues – has generated some insightful results for the water sector.

The survey prompted a significant level of responses from all levels of the supply chain, including senior water company executives, on-the-ground maintenance staff, equipment suppliers and Tier 1 alliance partners and contractors.

Totex – far from being embraced in UK water sector

Respondents felt strongly that Totex is far from being embraced in the UK water sector – in particular, water company level of acceptance was very low amongst O&M personnel and also low among middle management described in one response as a “treacle layer” working to outdated systems. There was also broad agreement that there was a currently a lack of discussion between budget holders within organisations.

It is difficult not to conclude that the UK water industry is failing to embrace a Whole Life Cost approach despite agreement that such an approach would encourage innovation which in turn can drive lower operating and energy costs – benefits that can be passed on to the consumer.

Grit removal – a ‘disconnect’ between opportunity and inertia

The picture painted by the survey on grit removal proved to be a very good example of a ‘disconnect’ between opportunity and inertia. It was clear that respondents accepted the potential for innovations in grit removal to achieve Whole Life Cost savings. However most continue with conventional practices that allow grit to compromise downstream processes. 

While the vast majority acknowledged that grit build up has a damaging impact, many still view the consequent burden of maintenance and equipment wear as an inevitable part of the process. At the same time, respondents strongly agreed that better grit removal would help water companies to achieve Totex objectives.

Interestingly, the sense of opportunity for improved performance was reflected more in the comments of downstream equipment suppliers, rather than the water companies themselves. Pump manufacturers, for example, flagged up the fact that reduced amounts of grit would positively impact the performance of their equipment.

There was a palpable sense of frustration amongst the equipment suppliers that took part in the survey. It was strongly agreed that a lowest price up-front procurement model persists – as one commenter put it – there is a “race the price to the bottom” tendering process.

The frustrations and barriers were clear, both in the emphatic answers to questions, and reading between the lines of people’s comments. There was strong feeling of the resistance to change mindsets to a Totex approach, and in fact, even a lack of consensus on what Totex really means.

The clear impression is that the conflict between Totex aspirations and the reality of procurement practices in water companies is being acutely experienced right across the supply chain, both from contractors and equipment suppliers of all types.

Key findings contained in the report include:

AMP6 and Totex

• Most people believe that the UK water industry is not yet ready to meet Totex objectives, or that, if it is ready, it has still to change. Only a small group believed the industry was already changing.
• There was strong agreement that resistance to change, a lack of consensus on what Totex really means, and a mindset split between Capex and Opex were all significant barriers to change. The fact that a lowest price-up front approach still prevails was judged the most significant of all the barriers suggested.
• The survey results confirmed a picture that people felt acceptance of Totex principles varied significantly across levels of water company personnel, but the overall picture was of low acceptance.
• There was strong agreement that a move to Totex would encourage more innovation and that reducing operating costs and through life equipment efficiency, including energy reduction could be drivers for change. However, some people added strong opinions suggesting that procurement approaches in water companies are currently hampering innovation that could improve whole life costing.

Grit removal

• Respondents overwhelmingly recognised the potential of more effective grit removal to contribute to reducing Operating and Maintenance costs and energy saving.
• The majority also believed that water companies are currently accepting a compromise in grit removal, even though they agreed that ineffective removal leads to excess wear of parts and equipment, and reduces treatment capacity and the effectiveness of biological processes.
• Most people felt grit build-up in tanks and digesters was inevitable and that grit incursion leads to increased maintenance costs and the need for more frequent clean out.
• The majority also felt that inadequate grit removal adversely affects the energy usage of a plant.

Commenting on the results, Keith Hayward, Sales & Marketing Manager in the European Wastewater Division of Hydro International said the results and conclusions of the survey are, perhaps, not completely surprising – except in the very strong sense of agreement and consensus.

Keith Hayward has flagged up the similarity of frustrations felt by other equipment suppliers, and also by contractors across the water sector supply chain, commenting:

“The sense of inevitability of the impact of grit on treatment processes is a definite case in point and, at Hydro we are all too aware of the hard yards we need to put in to persuade water companies of the benefits and potential Whole Life Cost savings.”

However, he also pointed out that the sector is beginning to move in the right direction:

“The good news is, we are beginning to work with the more forward-looking of the water companies to trial our HeadCell® technology which removes more, finer grit, at the inlet works and we are confident we’ll be able to demonstrate those positive results to the industry.”

Waterbriefing readers can download the survey findings in full here. Readers must be registered and logged in to access the report. Click here for free registration with Waterbriefing.

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