Alex Osborne

London’s running dry

The UK’s public services are under pressure. The NHS is facing chronic understaffing, and people are frustrated with the nation’s expensive and unreliable rail network.

These are, of course, pressing concerns. But some services face almost existential challenges. Thames Water has the responsibility of supplying clean drinkable water as well as waste services to more than 15 million people every single day – for houses, offices, schools and hospitals. But it’s estimated that in its current state of repair, the network can guarantee that supply for only another 30 years.

London’s ageing pipe network is made up of more than 139,000 kilometres of water and waste pipes – enough to traverse the globe 3.5 times – with thousands of these pipes dating back to the 1800s and 1900s. The combination of a continuously growing population and the changing climate are putting huge strains on the network.

One of Thames Water’s biggest challenges is dealing with leaks. Concerted action needs to be taken now or London could run dry. Reducing leakage is part of the solution, but Thames Water cannot easily replace the whole network. And educating consumers on how to use water more efficiently can only go so far. But new technology is helping Thames Water tackle the challenges head-on.

What’s needed is a system that can provide information at a moment’s notice. An overview of the technology supporting the vast network is built up, to help identify where problems exist and find the most efficient way to restore services when they fail. The meshing of this technology with the water and waste network will help Thames Water’s operations to run seamlessly, because operators will be able to quickly and accurately flag any issues raised by sensors deployed throughout the network. Engineers on the ground will have a far better understanding of the fault and location – thereby accelerating response times and minimising downtime and disruption while repairs are taking place.

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