Lincolnshire reservoir monitoring system wins engineering innovation award
Anglian Water has won an award for its high tech work on reservoirs in Lincolnshire.
The water company which serves most of the county won the Innovation and Technical Excellence Merit Award at the Institution of Civil Engineers East Midlands Merit Awards (EMMAs), held in Nottingham on Friday June 12.
It was praised for its work implementing a remote, telemetry-based borehole monitoring system used to transform how long-term groundwater data is collected and used.
As part of the Lincolnshire Reservoir programme, Anglian Water’s project replaced regular data downloads done in person, with automated monitoring, providing near real-time groundwater level and temperature data from 50 boreholes via a secure digital platform. This approach eliminated the need for site visits and is said to have improved data reliability.
The judges recognised the considerable operational efficiency and sustainable benefits delivered by this approach which saw many weeks savings in site works saved and around 2.46 tonnes of CO₂ will be avoided by 2029.
The £75,000 scheme is improving safety and lowering the environmental impacts
Commenting on this year’s awards ICE East and West Midlands Regional Director, Jo Barnett, said: “Anglian Water used technical solutions to find innovative ways to improve engineering on their projects.
“Our annual ICE East Midlands Merit Awards not only recognise the dedication and hard work of our members, it also allows us to celebrate the positive impact that civil and infrastructure engineering have on our daily lives.”
Anglian Water says its networks are getting the biggest upgrade in years, with a plan worth over £11 billion.
The work is already underway.
In Lincolnshire they are spending £53 million to increase capacity at 18 water recycling centres, including those that serve Metheringham, Claypole, Frampton, Swinderby and Sleaford.
Another £25 million will improve bathing water quality in Tetney Newton Marsh, Boston and Sutton Bridge.
A further £8 million is being used to protect and enhance animal and plant life, by increasing storm tank capacity and preventing spills at six water recycling centres in Canwick, Marston, Alford, Spilsby, Willingham and Bourne.
A £36 million upgrade for 16 water recycling centres across the county should protect and enhance animal and plant life in local rivers, by helping remove nutrients like phosphorous from the treated wastewater being returned to the environment.
There is also a £79 million upgrade to Covenham and Hall water treatment works to ensure a reliable and resilient water supply for the future.
And £58 million towards creating new interconnecting pipes across the county, to move water around the region wherever and whenever needed.