#PODDS

Note: all documents and files are for members only. Password required to access. Links marked with an asterisk * are publicly available.

If you have any issues accessing a file or document please email Dr Stewart Husband: s.husband@sheffield.ac.uk.

@PODDS - exciting new project proposal

PODDS Compendium - examples of PODDS and associated project applications to current #PODDS project members. Not included is the ongoing support or extensive delivered learning, from bespoke and wider regular dissemination events that has facilitated improved and more rapid assimilation of concepts and operational strategies to support delivery.

REF21 The REF (research Excellence Framework) is the UK's system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions. PODDS research has uncovered and validated the key synergies between in-pipe hydraulics, material accumulation processes and the role of microbial biofilms in drinking water discolouration.

Working with 13 major UK water companies, we have demonstrated that discolouration can be operationally managed by planned hydraulic conditioning. Application of the research to the operation of 2,686km of UK trunk mains delivered over £411m in cost-savings in operational and capital expenditure.

#PODDS fully signed agreement 20 June 2020 – project commencement date 1 March 2020.

Discolouration Monitoring, Interpretation and Asset Deterioration Management – delivering the success of PODDS research.

PODDS has delivered valuable practical research outputs from exploration of all aspects of discolouration, coupled with discussion and debate that is informed by wide ranging real world examples and situations from multiple project partners. The outcomes have seen delivery of evidence based pioneering strategies, including industry accepted monitoring and modelling tools, widespread inclusion in PR19 submissions, long term operational benefits, improved risk management and significant cost-savings with improvements in levels of service and customer satisfaction.

In July 2019 OFWAT published their emerging strategy for regulating water in which they state "that the adoption of innovative approaches is key to delivering long-term resilience... in a cost-effective and sustainable way" and a desire "to see companies work more effectively together and with their supply chain to better tackle these challenges." These declarations echo the work and achievements of the PODDS project since its inception.

To sustain and grow PODDS delivered advances and promote desirable pro-active and efficient water quality management strategies, a two year #PODDS project is proposed to continue the research and development, current company bespoke support and facilitate sharing of best practices. The research will focus on improving understanding of asset deterioration rates that are critical to inform operational and maintenance schedules whilst investigating value obtainable from location, extent, hosting and interpretation of data from network monitoring.

PODDS visual summary* – a useful summary document to share PODDS understanding.

A research feature* suitable for a general audience about PODDS and titled 'How two engineers are solving the UK's number one water quality complaint'.



Documents

VCDM introductory course – Powerpoint slides.

VCDM Maintenance Planner - Excel spreadsheet to create .csv files of maintenance flow profiles for VCDM

PODDS related company publications:

  1. June 2016 – Scottish Water Vision magazine '... £15 million saving...'

  2. September 2016 – Northumbrian Water in Water and Wastewater Treatment '... 90% capital cost saving...'

PODDS EPANET model parameters

PODDS EPANET Model, Discolouration Risk Analysis Tool

PODDS EPANET Manual

Contaminant Ingress Distribution (CID) videos

PODDS App*

Regulating discolouration in the UK – this document has been produced to stimulate discussion regarding the current regulation of discolouration related issues in the UK. It attempts to capture some key aspects that have arisen during PODDS events. The questions raised are substantive and potentially controversial.

NTU Equivalence – set of plots that demonstrate how turbidity correlates with iron and manganese from national and international PODDS trials.

Some examples of PODDS mediated savings are highlighted in this table.

Download the PDF

Steering group meetings

  1. 25 February 2020, PLB E05, University of Sheffield, agenda, presentation and minutes.

  2. 3 June 2020, Video-conference, agenda, presentation and minutes.

  3. 8 September 2020, Video-conference, agenda, presentation and minutes.

  4. 14 January 2021, agenda, meeting presentation, Mirjam Blokker presentation (SIMDEUM), meeting video and minutes.

  5. 27 April 2021 Video-conference, agenda, presentation and minutes.

  6. 14 July 2021 Video-conference, agenda, presentation and minutes.

  7. 20 October 2021, agenda, presentation and minutes.

  8. 2 March 2022, agenda, presentation and minutes