Pressure testing, disinfecting and commissioning is required for private supply pipes and mains pipes before they are allowed to be connected to the public water supply. This is done for two main reasons: to ensure a safe standard of water quality for all, and to maintain an acceptable level of public health standard.

Testing and disinfecting should always be performed on pipes that are over 100 metres in length, as well as any pipes that have been compromised in any way. This is especially so if the pipes in question have suffered an ingress due to damage. This could be from flood water, for example, or of considerably more concern, from sewage perhaps. Any pipe that has been damaged and repaired, or even replaced, should be tested thoroughly to ensure the complete integrity and safety of the whole system.

Private supply pipes, or private water mains pipes, are normally classed as those pipes attached directly to a property. They usually remain within the boundary of the property and connect to the local authority infrastructure water mains pipe system through a boundary stop tap. These pipes are normally the responsibility of the individual customer of the local authority who receives water from the public mains supply.

Because private mains and supply pipes are not under the direct control of the local authority, it is essential that they thoroughly and properly undergo pressure testing, as well as disinfecting before being commissioned by the local authority and deemed as being suitable for inclusion in the overall water mains system.

Before any testing through pressure can commence, the pipes have to be properly cleaned of all debris and dirt that may be present. This is done by flushing at a high enough rate of flow to remove whatever sediment there may be. If the pipe is badly contaminated, it may require a mechanical means of cleaning to remove any stubborn sediment deposits.

Following the flushing procedure, the pipe should be dosed with a solution of chlorine at a strength of at least 50 milligrams per litre. The solution should be contained within the pipe for a minimum period of one hour for maximum effect. Further flushing should then take place to thoroughly clean out the pipe.

Pressure testing can then commence. The pipes should be tested at one and a half times the pipes’ pressure rating. Naturally, all safety procedures should be  properly observed, and the entire operation should only be performed by operators who are fully trained and experienced.

Flow technology is concerned with the measurement of the flow of either a liquid or a gas. Knowing how slowly or how quickly a medium is flowing through a given channel, usually a closed pipe, can tell the person measuring the flow many things. The flow rate can be used to decide how much to charge a consumer, as in council water charges, for example, where a household or a business may be charged according to the amount of water they use within a given time period.

Flow technology depends on gauges to determine the rate of flow. The gauges can be straightforward pressure sensitive gauges, or they can be digital flow gauges. Digital flow gauges still operate through pressure, but this type of flow technology produces a digital read out instead of the more traditional clock-style mechanical gauge.

The measuring devices used in flow technology usually measure liquids in litres per second, or litres per minute, and a working range of up to perhaps 80 litres per second is not uncommon. However, every flow gauge is only as accurate as it state of calibration. If it is a very old gauge that has not been serviced or even looked at for years, it may not be giving an accurate picture of how fast things are flowing through.

The state of flow technology used to mean that precision gauges had to be removed and taken to an external calibration laboratory to be calibrated. Of course, this usually also meant that the system where the gauge was an essential component had to be shut down for the duration, however long that happened to be. Today’s flow technology has changed all that in most cases. Now flow gauges can be calibrated accurately in the field.

The end users of flow technology have, for some time now, been pushing the makers of flow meters and gauges to produce a unit that can last a reasonable length of time before calibration becomes an issue and a necessity. In addition to this, they have been seeking a flow gauge that can be calibrated in the field, thereby significantly limiting the time that the system has to be shut down.

Today’s flow technology has achieved both objectives to the satisfaction of end users everywhere. Portable flow transfer standard systems can now be employed in the field, either for calibration purposes, or even as a tool for constantly monitoring how a line or an entire application is functioning.

There is a Need to Help Those Who do Pay on Time

Interim reports on the independent Walker Review of water have indicated that the problem of delayed bill payments or failure to pay bills are costing on average an additional fee of £11 on everyone else’s water bill.

In the report it is suggested that the ban on reduced flow devices aptly named ‘trickle flow’ should be dropped in order for the same to be implemented on those customers who clearly can pay the bills but simply refuse to do so.

Whilst there appears to be a clear protest about the implementation of such water devices there is a clear consideration for the everyday, honest bill payer who appears to be hard done by the current situation.

The water industry is clearly concerned at the current economic situation and understanding toward how debt crisis affects its millions of customers but this is simply no defence to allow those paying their bills on time to face an additional economic burden to pay for the others less likely to be prompt.

It seems that the use of trickle values in the water industry is a highly sensitive one at the present time but one that is clearly on the agenda and of course if things get tougher when it comes to customers not paying bills it could well come to the forefront of consideration in the future.

That is the opinion of many in the water industry after Ofwat announced its proposals based on a short term approach targeted at prices.

The Governments excellent water strategy for England and Wales Future Water was originally produced in February 2008 and despite the initial pro active approach to its key factors the issue of price over these fundamental points is now putting unnecessary pressure on the water industry, according to many organisations including Water UK.

Many in water industry are keen to see the fulfilment of the Future Water strategy which key areas include:

Sustainability is very much the keyword in this area and many in the water industry are keen to tackle the main questions including:

The fundamental issue for many is quite simple, long term plans and solutions are paramount for the success of the UK water industry and the quality of the water it produces for its consumers

Attention by the Water Companies Over the Past 20 Years is Praised

The UK Environment Agency has announced that the water quality presented in the England and Wales environment has once again improved, making this the nineteenth year in a row that this has been reported.

The Environment Agency General Quality Assessment stated that in 2008 in excess of seventy per cent of Englands rivers and ninety per cent of Welsh rivers were consistently in what they termed ‘good status’ in relation to biological and chemical status.

The Agency associate the improvements to a clear result of measures that have effected the water industry such as the tough handling of those intent on polluting the British waterway system and also changes to many farming practices that once encroached on the cleanliness of Britain’s waterways.

Probably the biggest factor in effecting the cleanliness of the England and Wales waterways however has been the higher investments contributed by the water industry companies themselves of the past 20 years which has led to a sustained focus on improvements.

The UK’s water regulator OFWAT has apparently given the go ahead for the review and likely implementation of heavy increases in the household water and sewerage charges for many residents throughout the UK.

OFWAT is expected to put in a formal report on the proposals from several of the UK’s main water companies who are requesting the price increases. One Bristol company in particular is pushing the application of a twenty-nine per cent increase in household bills whilst many are pushing increases between seventeen and twenty-nine per cent.

When asked about the reasons for the dramatic increases there didn’t seem to be a common denominator and some of the reasons ranged from costs for stiffer environmental controls though to costs in relation to the quality of drinking water.

One thing is very much certain, whilst OFWAT might deem the rise in costs appropriate there is sure to be a negative response from an economy in recession and given the additional information that water companies are predicting pre-tax profits in excess of £2 Billion, it might be a bitter pill for the public to swallow.

From simple pipelines to complete reservoirs, such areas can easily be chlorinated with industrial technology including the use of chlorinating trailer systems capable of chlorinating 60,000LPH at anything from 0-100PPM. The use of de-chlorinating tablet feeders ensures precise distribution of adequate doses to be effected.

The UK has led the way in this area of technology for decades and through various established manufacturers the UK has produced cutting edge technologies and machinery used the world over.

With some machines able to handle in excess of 120,000 litres per hour it is easy to see why Britain leads the way in producing such sought after chlorinating and filtration systems many of which are so designed to be maintenance free ensuring an extremely high level of reliability.

Pressure Testing Services

National pressure testing services also form part on an essential regime in order to maintain stability and functionality. Hydrostatic testing is another important element of water testing service.

Maintaining a healthy and world class water system requires precise and highly effective engineering support and one of the world leaders is based right here in the UK. The Vernon Morris company was established over 60 years ago and is now a major provider of quality precision water equipment throughout the world.

Providing the very best in flow gauge and pressure testing equipment Vernon Morris also offer professional and expert advice in a number of sophisticated elements relating to the water industry.

Water Support Services

Vernon Morris are experts in the treatment and purification of water sources and provide the very best equipment for chlorinating processes and support services on grand scales including extensive research programmes to maintain the highest standards in the treatment and management of water sources throughout the world.

This natural liquid we sometimes refer to as the source of life also forms the foundation of many aspects of the water industry where an amazing amount of people have careers depending on it.

It is probably a fact that many people simply take water for granted and they probably don’t even realise just how important this liquid is.

Without water or H2O as it chemically known there simply would be no life as we know it. It forms the major foundation and proportion of all living things and is the substance our bodies need first and foremost for basic survival.

This wonderful, and completely underestimated liquid also forms the foundation of a massive industry in both a commercial and lifestyle sense. From companies managing household water supplies through to private mineral water resellers and companies manufacturing precision water flow technology components there is an industry based solely around water, the source of life, not only for its essential being but for the working careers is provides.

From the most basic water pipelines to huge life sourcing reservoirs, such facilities need to be chlorinated and maintained in order to sustain the ability for the water to be purified and used for consumption by humans. Industrial technologies including chlorinating trailer systems are more than capable of chlorinating 60,000LPH at anything from 0-100PPM.

The use of de-chlorinating tablet feeders can also ensure the precise distribution of adequate doses to be effected.

Britain has led the way in this area of water technology and water pressure testing services for many years and through a number of established manufacturers the UK is now producing cutting edge technologies and machinery that are being actively used across the globe.

Some of the machinery being produced is able to handle volumes of water in excess of 120,000 litres per hour, in doing so it is very easy to see why Britain is ahead of the rest in producing such sought after chlorinating and filtration water systems many of which have been specifically designed to be completely maintenance free which also delivers high levels of reliability.

National pressure testing services also form part on an essential order in maintaining stability and functionality. Hydrostatic testing is another important element of water testing service that Britain again is a world leader in delivering quality products and chlorination services.