Southern Water UV Plant Upgrades

Customer: 4D

Site Owner: Southern Water

Value: £2.2m+

FSD have been contracted as the site managers on behalf of the client, 4D, for mechanical, electrical and, on some sites, civils works on 10 clean water Southern Water sites in south and south-east England.

The general scope for each site is to design, install and provide commissioning support for new UV plant and equipment. The process design is issued by the client and FSD are tasked with managing the particular electrical and mechanical design aspects of the works.

The electrical scope involves design of cabling both to new plant and instrumentation and to existing control and telemetry panels, reviewing the latter to determine the interface details and needs of the client . We are also tasked with offloading, installing, and connecting up free issue control and power panels for the new UV reactor plant using third party drawings as the basis for the design. Our scope also encompassed sourcing and installing instrumentation and small bore valves which meet the particular plant requirements whilst being suitable for the potable water duty they are being utilised for.  The mechanical scope of works comprised the detailed design fabrication and installation of the large bore and small bore pipework in line with the client P&IDs and specifications.

The electrical and mechanical scope ran in parallel in a number of key areas and the interaction between both discipline site teams had to be carefully planned, both at an overall programme level, and day to day by our site manager.

The scope also included on site and programme management of minor civil works and specialist water treatment sub contractors and maintaining records of the use of equipment, such as vibrating tools.

On completion of the works, as built documentation has to include certification from all suppliers to prove suitable for use in this environment, all test results/as built drawings, update of end user asset register, redline and update of end user drawings where interface to existing panels was completed.

Although the client was designated as the principle contractor, FSD were requested to take full responsibility for this aspect of the overall project delivery.  The role encompassed managing third parties who were not involved in our scope of works and maintaining a detailed site folder with records of all personnel working on the site including copies of their trade and relevant health & safety competency cards, such as CSCS and EUSR.

Our site supervisors were also responsible for giving toolbox talks, site inductions; the supervision was augmented by regular site inspections by FSD SHEQ manager. 

As the outlet from each site is potable water, the need for strict hygiene and prevention of cross contamination in accordance with EUSR requirements is paramount and all works are carried out with this in mind. We have ensured that RAMS documentation and correct permits are in place in a timely manner to meet the client’s high expectations.

The location of the sites and the availability of the works at each one necessitated careful management of resources at site level to match the available work and prevent low efficiency working. Programme dates have changed continuously and FSD have had to be prompt and pro active to mitigate costs where works have been delayed or disrupted by third party events or actions. Programming of changes in access dates were closely recorded and regular communication between all parties essential to minimise abortive visits and restricted working costs.

Very positive feedback from our client has confirmed the high standards of QA, health and safety within the project team and within FSD as a company, which has contributed significantly to the successful completion of works to date.

Additional pictures of our installations at various Southern Water sites can be found in our Gallery; please click here .