Why ‘PODDS et AL’?

This conceptual figure illustrates how the collaborative PODDS projects have, and PODDS et AL will, change the cost benefit of discolouration management (y-axis) by the type of intervention and level of service achieved (x-axis).

Pre-PODDS flushing was the cheapest and first reaction to discolouration contacts, beyond this interventions were via invasive cleaning methods and costly pipe renewal or treatment works upgrades.

The biggest quantified impact of PODDS has been the implementation of flow conditioning, primarily for trunk mains with their large number of downstream consumers. This has significantly reduced the costs and amount of trunk main renewal and delivered major service improvements. It has also reduced the need for WTW upgrades and highlighted the unsustainable nature of invasive cleaning methods.  This is captured in the shift between lines 1 and 2.

The outcomes and outputs from PODDS et AL will deliver ‘self-maintaining’ networks that costing virtually nothing will eliminate accumulation hot spots and mitigate in-DMA contacts and maintenance. It will inform targeted and bespoke flushing, removing the need for whole DMA flushing operations and determine return periods to move from reactive to proactive interventions, enhancing efficiency and resource management.  PODDS et AL will continue to grow our knowledge base of accumulation processes and return intervals, improving proactive flow conditioning and flushing efficiencies.  These changes, achieving higher levels of service with reducing total costs, and the resulting further reduction in water quality as a driver for pipe renewal are captured in the transition from line 2 to 3.

Flow Conditioning & Flush Planning for Discolouration Resilience (download)

UoS_PODDS_IntroScreenAndAnimation.mp4

Download this short animation of PODDS principles

Note: documents and files are password protected for members only. 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.

VCDM Intervention Planner - Excel spreadsheet used to generate maintenance profiles for VCDM application

@PODDS TRIAL SITES - shared spreadsheet for project management

@PODDS Trial Sites v1.0

@PODDS - 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.

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.

Flow Conditioning & Flush Planning for Discolouration Resilience (download)




Steering group meetings

PROJECT COMMENCEMENT 1st NOVEMBER 2022