A year with operations as Network Performance Engineer (NPE)...Oct 06, 2017 · Title: Microsoft PowerPoint - 6. Alan Maher Proposed Presentation A Year In Operations for CWMAG 2017

A year with operations as Network Performance Engineer

(NPE)Alan Maher

Copyright © United Utilities Water Limited 2017 2

12 month secondment to operations

Introduction

20 minutes

Background

Role responsibilities

Rehabilitation scheme – an in depth look

How did they benefit from having a modeller?

What have I learned from the experience



Background

2004: University of Liverpool – Geology with Physical Geography (BSc.)

2005: University of Liverpool – “Modelling and Integrated Management of Water

in the Natural Environment” Research Masters (MRes.)

2006 – 2008: Consultancy 2.5 years as a graduate Modelling Engineer.

2008 – Present: Graduate – Assistant Engineer ‐ Modelling Engineer in Modelling

Team, United Utilities.

2013 ‐ Chartered Water & Environmental Manager (C.WEM).

2016 – 2017: Secondment as a Network Performance Engineer (NPE) for North

Cheshire which includes Warrington, Widnes and Runcorn.



Modelling responsibilities

Modelling Engineer

Modelling specialist

Picks up more complex jobs for

other parts of the business

Network Performance Engineer

Trained modeller ~ 20% of time

Simpler jobs, sends complex to

the Modelling Team

80% of time ‐ A number of other

duties regarding network

performance

Skills provided to

the network team

New skills learned

in secondment



North Cheshire



Role responsibilities of NPE (High variety)

Matrix Manager base in operations

Liaison with other parts of the business, “go to” technical person for the area.

Modelling new housing & industrial developments

Distribution Operation Maintenance Strategy (DOMS) meetings, Water quality, pressure, growth

Very Small Projects (VSPs <£250k): Initiating and managing from start to finish.

Poor pressure (DG2) monitoring: and input into resolving issues.

Network risk assessments

Technical Standby Cover

Additional: Contingency plans, connectivity schematics, SR turnover, Ineos investigation, Oswestry

turbidity monitoring


Rehabilitation Scheme


Low pressure

• A few properties experiencing less than 15m pressure.


What is the significance of poor pressure

Short timescales to correct the issue to avoid regulatory penalties.

Flagged up as DG2 issue (pressures have become lower).

Inclusion GSS payments.

Yearly totals reportable to the OFWAT.


Head loss in the system07/09/2016

0 hours 24hrs


Worst affected section


Yes, these pipes do exist

Further issues?

Proactivity avoiding customer complaints

New future housing developments – risk of poor supply from future developments

Cast iron main (1930’s)

High discolouration risk

High burst risk

Resilience – rezone potential

Sample cut info from previous years shows main to be heavily “tuberculated”


Options

1) No rezone option 3) Rehab partial or whole main

2) Check for a throttled valve/restriction 4) Add x‐connection

Buried valve, could this be the issue?


Open cut rehab solution whole main


Individual sections of new main are sampled and chlorinated on commission


Construction drawings returned for progress updates


Health and Safety

Extra time was allowed due to the

presence of gas mains.

Work on hold during Storm Dorris.

Application to council for traffic

management specifically around a traffic

island.

Traffic light cover blown off


Modelling shows DMA can now be rezoned

Normal supply Rezone supply

Rehab

Proposed slip

lining across

bridge


How did they benefit from having a modeller?

• VSP mobilisation – Use of loggers and modelling to identify issues and move

VSPs past the “Optioneering” stage and into project.

• More confidence in modelled solutions proposed

• Modelling of more complex SIRs and EPLAs

• Realisation within Field Operations of the wide ranging benefits of modelling,

attitude towards the results improves when the model driver has confidence

in the results.


What have I learned from the experience

• Understanding of the organisational structure

• Matrix management – what people do day to day, how they work differently

and why, where the different attitudes and perceptions come from, what

makes them tick.

• Understanding of where modelling projects originate and how finances are

mobilised.

• Awareness of different data sources available (DG2, water quality etc.) and

quality of / confidence in these data sources.

• Awareness of site issues and ways of working that can help and hinder

projects.

Thankyou for listening. Any Questions?

Documents

A year with operations as Network Performance Engineer (NPE)...Oct 06, 2017 · Title: Microsoft PowerPoint - 6. Alan Maher Proposed Presentation A Year In Operations for CWMAG 2017