Winners of the Innovator/09 Product, Process and Service Award
Achieving a shift in perception
Yorkshire Water and Brinker Ltd.
Effecting a sea change in thinking is a huge challenge for any large corporate company, but this year’s winner of the Product, Process, Service Award has one particular innovation to thank for a startling shift in perception.
Yorkshire Water clearly aspires to be the best water company in the UK and is keen to be recognised by external organisations. Stephen Herndlhofer of Yorkshire Water Services Ltd comments, “The award is the first that Yorkshire Water and Brinker have won as a partnership reflecting our ongoing commitment to the commercialisation of this technology within the water sector. The award came at a time when we had made substantial progress, but there remains a lot for Yorkshire Water to do. The significant challenges associated with the introduction of such a revolutionary technology shouldn’t be underestimated, so the recognition by Yorkshire Forward of the achievements we have made thus far is particularly satisfying.”
In 2005, Yorkshire Water announced its aspirations to enable the repair of its underground infrastructure without the need to interrupt customer water supplies or excavate the highway. This challenge has been taken up by a number of partner organisations from inside and outside the industry. One such organisation, Aberdeen-based Brinker, had already developed a technology with the potential to help them achieve these aspirations. The technology, originally conceived by Dr Ian McEwan of Aberdeen University, is based upon the concept of platelets – the method with which the body’s red blood cells heal wounds. Brinker had already established commercial operations within the oil and gas industry and today, the technologies they provide to the sector are well established, innovative and proven.
In November 2007, Yorkshire Water began a collaborative project with Brinker, the purpose of which was to understand and develop the technology for applications within the water industry. Project Athena, as it became known, comprised a detailed programme of technical development, robust testing and monitoring on Yorkshire's water network, as well as business process redesign, organisational change and stakeholder engagement.
Yorkshire Water manages the collection, treatment and distribution of water in Yorkshire, supplying around 1.24 billion litres of drinking water each day. It also collects, treats and disposes of about one billion litres of waste water. The repair of the underground water system in the region has seen little innovation for decades. Herndlhofer explains, “Tests have proved that this technology has the potential to revolutionise the manner in which the water industry repairs its underground infrastructure. The traditional methods of excavation in urban areas cause major disruption for the public and road users. On top of this, excavations in the highway mean we have to transport large amounts of earth and spoil to and from the site. All of which can raise repair costs and increase our carbon footprint.
Yorkshire Water's developing ability to inspect, operate, repair and rehabilitate our underground infrastructure without excavation is supported by a wide range of new technologies and business processes. We remain absolutely focussed on continuing the development of our capability in this area and are currently developing and testing a range of supporting technologies to do just that. For example, in support of the new repair system and process, we will soon be able to use above ground monitoring and under pressure camera technology to ascertain at an early stage, the precise nature and extent of the problem. Equipped with much better information about the problem, we can make more informed decisions as to the most appropriate repair solution. Every leak and every network configuration is different and it is the skill and expertise of the team which determines how the repair work needs to be carried out, wherever possible with the minimum of disruption and without excavation.”
Andrew Palmer, Regional Director of the CBI, Yorkshire and The Humber, sponsor of the Product, Process and Service Award commented, “Innovation is fundamental to sustaining and promoting business success, economic prosperity, environmental sustainability and social welfare. It is particularly critical as the economy reshapes during the downturn, which presents a challenge and an opportunity for businesses to transform and invest for the future. The CBI is working in support of a thriving innovation ecosystem, which is a key priority for business.”
Watch our interview with Yorkshire Water and Brinker Ltd. after the awards.
