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Duo of awards shortlist success in the Water Industry Awards

We are delighted to announce that we have been shortlisted as finalists in  two categories at the prestigious Water Industry 2024 Awards, alongside our smart pigging technology partner iNPIPE PRODUCTS, recognising the world-class innovative approach we are applying at the Vyrnwy Aqueduct Modernisation Programme, in Cheshire.

We have been shortlisted  in the Groundbreaker Award and  Partnership/Alliance Award.

The Water Industry Awards celebrates excellence in the industry and remains the water sector’s primary awards event. Our entries have beaten off stiff competition.

Avove partnered with iNPIPE to design and manufacture bespoke air pigs and camera pigs to inspect, clean, monitor and maintain water pipelines. This innovative method of cleaning incorporated video inspection technology which validated the pipeline’s cleanliness and uses air rather than water.

This is the first time globally that air-pigging and camera air-pig analysis have been used at this size and scale. Whilst being able to clean and inspect long sections of up to 6km at a time; the ground-breaking technology cleans pipelines to the highest standard of water compliance and returns the trunk mains into service with ease. The project also delivers huge reductions in CO2, time, cost, excavations, haul roads and water used.

u003cblockquoteu003enu003cpu003eIt’s great news to be shortlisted in the Net Zero Carbon Initiative of the Year for the work we are doing with United Utilities on the Vyrnwy Aqueduct Modernisation Programme. We are bringing innovative ways of working to the forefront of the industry and this project is breaking ground in how we approach the inspection, cleaning and relining of three parallel pipelines that carry water underneath Cheshire to ensure we continue to keep customers’ taps flowing to the required water quality.u003c/pu003enu003cpu003e“Simply making the shortlist is an amazing achievement for the entire team here at Avove and highlights our ongoing work to facilitate innovative ways of working and design in the water sector. We have worked hard to build a solid reputation across the UK, and this underlines the commitment that our colleagues put in every single day – fingers crossed for the win!”u003c/pu003enu003c/blockquoteu003enu003cpu003eAvove, Account Manager, Greg Williamsu003c/pu003e

About the project

We have mobilised the project to a very high standard and continuously strived to innovate and drive carbon reduction within our design and build aspects of the project. Our in-house design and environmental teams have identified and focused on two key areas for carbon reduction within the phase 1 build sections.

Avove’s Senior Civil Engineer, Jonathon Craggs, identified the opportunity to change the cleaning technique on the trunk main from the traditional method to air pigging and worked tirelessly to drive the positive change within the project with the wider Avove project team. This new technique was pitched to United Utilities and was well received, as this solution offered reduced demand for water requirements and a significant reduction in the carbon footprint for the project as fewer tankers are required for the disposal of water. It also provided more protection to the existing liner whilst cleaning the main, which in turn provides time, cost and programme benefits – offering an improved way of working compared to traditional methods.

In parallel to the air pigging, a further carbon reduction will be achieved due to a new sub-soil treatment process for the temporary haul roads, and this is being proven on the Vyrnwy project.

Well done to everyone involved in the project and the award submission. We look forward to attending the awards on 29 June @VOX in Birmingham. 

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