Collaborate to innovate?

Water companies must also be innovative in their work with suppliers, Mellor suggests. “For the water industry to deliver impactful change in AMP8 it should modernise its approach. It should adopt collaborative working models which proportionately share risk and reward, and incentivise the supply chain to deliver long-term sustainable outcomes to benefit local communities and the environment.”

Working in partnership rather than relying on a top-down approach will help water utilities as they struggle to secure the resources they need to fulfil their plans. “It is ultimately the supply chain that will design and construct, and the water companies are often competing for the same suppliers,” Mellor explains.

For its part, Sika points to the desirability of collaborative procurement models such as early contractor involvement and integrated project delivery. “These approaches can streamline decision-making, foster a shared understanding of project objectives, and enable the integration of diverse expertise throughout the project lifecycle,” says Sika.

Steve Holmes, senior technical manager at the company, says there will always be a case for complete asset replacement where it makes more sense to start from scratch. “But that has to be balanced with the carbon impact of the works, which needs to be assessed holistically. For example, journeys to site have a huge impact on the carbon intensity of a project.

“On the other hand, innovative repair and protection materials can enable ageing assets to be kept online and at capacity. Thoughtful specification can ensure the materials are right for the environment and that repairs will stand the test of time.”

Using rehabilitation and refurbishment approaches, water companies can thus unlock some of the untapped potential of existing infrastructure. Assets that might have been deemed obsolete achieve new leases of life. And as utilities strive to do much, much more in AMP8, their capital expenditure can also be reduced.

Want more information? Contact Sarah Courbet, senior marketing manager, Sika: courbet.sarah@uk.sika.com