Yorkshire Water manages the collection, treatment and distribution of water in Yorkshire, supplying around 1.24 billion litres of drinking water each day.

Balfour Beatty Utility Solutions was awarded the AMP5 Water Networks contract (south area) with work commencing on the 1st April 2010, for a five year period. The £70 million contract includes the detailed investigation, feasibility, design, management and construction of potable water mains rehabilitation works throughout South and West Yorkshire.

The contract is part of Yorkshire Water’s £1.9 billion investment programme in the region to address water quality and discoloration, while securing the supply and reducing the risk of bursts. Much of the region’s water network was laid in the early 20th century and natural deposits have formed within the pipes, in some cases leading to discoloration.

Balfour Beatty Utility Solutions is working with Yorkshire Water to upgrade the network by replacing mains that have come to the end of their life, and finding innovative ways to clean or reline others. These have included a specialist pipe ‘cleaning brush’, purpose built by our Innovation team and the winner of several industry innovation awards, as well as high-pressure pipe cleaning jets used to clear the concrete slumps which can form in pipes over time.

Having worked with Yorkshire Water since 1994, the Water Networks contract provides an opportunity to build on the existing strong relationship between the two companies and Yorkshire Water’s other service partners. This includes the co-location of teams into a single building in Leeds, creating an integrated capital delivery team which has allowed a more collaborative approach to develop across innovation, safety and customer service.