Wastewater network pumping systems are only a small part of the sewer network, yet they have a disproportionate impact on the performance of many sewerage systems, due to poor hydraulic performance, poor reliability, odour complaints, bacterial corrosion and short asset lives . The environmental impact of failures is also high, with a high proportion of them leading to serious pollution and prosecution.
Reliability problems and poor performance of network pumping installations are often caused, or exacerbated by, ill-informed decisions taken right at the start of the planning stage. Design changes during construction that are not properly considered by the designers, and subsequent changes are also a major cause of failures as are poorly considered upgrading or refurbishment schemes.
To help to address the problem, the Water Research Centre (WRc) is publishing a new manual which describes the complete design process, pointing out the implications of each decision. Resilience is considered at each stage with the development of contingency plan a key part of the design process.
This seminar will outline the common causes of many of the problems experienced with wastewater pumping systems as well as providing an overview of the new manual and the significant changes to approach that are advocated by it.
Speakers
Nick Orman
Nick is a Chartered Civil Engineer and Water and Environmental Manager, and Principal Consultant with WRc, specialising in the design, rehabilitation, management and operation of drain and sewer systems. His specialist areas include sewer inspection technologies, sewer deterioration mechanisms, sewer collapse analysis, sewer rehabilitation design.
Nick was Secretary to the European Standards Working Group CEN TC165/WG22 'Drainage outside buildings' for over 25 years and is now a member of the UK delegation. During this time the group produced EN 16932 on the design of wastewater pumping systems. He was a major contributor to the WRc rising mains manual in 2006 and principal author of the forthcoming WRc wastewater pumping systems design manual. He was the winner of the 2024 WaPUG Prize from the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) for his significant contribution to the development of Urban Drainage Practice.
Phillip Clisham
Phillip is a Chartered Civil Engineer with 35 years of experience in water and wastewater networks. Phillip has developed extensive expertise in the design and rehabilitation of pipeline infrastructure, contributing to best practice across the sector.
Phillip is a Past Chairman of the Pipeline Industries Guild, having served on the Guild's Technical Panels for over 18 years. He also serves on several BSI and CIRIA standards committees, Royal Academy of Engineers working groups as well as representing the Institution of Civil Engineers on sewerage-related matters. He is a strong advocate for collaboration and the continuous improvement of industry standards.