Technology watch
Technology watch policy
We have an integrated approach to research, technology and knowledge management focussed on addressing business priorities in the key areas of efficiency, sustainability and leadership.
We work together with operations teams and suppliers to focus on delivering efficiencies – the most tangible outcome of the knowledge economy, and the only one explicitly incentivised by the regulatory system.
Strategic research partnerships are likely to offer the best skills and financial leverage to deliver medium-term research, development and demonstration. The right partners are needed to promote a natural flow of basic scientific know-how into the more applied environment, at the same time as easing future implementation. We lead medium-term applied research: communicating our needs, shaping research programmes, establishing collaborative partnerships and leveraging resources.
We also work together with operations, technical and business teams to take advantage of emerging best practices and new knowledge to inform our technical strategies, investment decision making and operating guidelines; and to demonstrate our use of this knowledge to the Regulator.
We work collaboratively to achieve our Leadership objectives – much of the work in this area focuses on developing a common understanding or an agreed way of working. Collaboration will tend to be within the UK water industry, but may extend to any stakeholder with whom we need to work. We are influential in determining the collaborative research agenda and play an active role in the delivery of such research.
Technology watch action plan
• Set our Research Agenda – capture and document our primary research objectives for efficiency, sustainability and leadership through robust and transparent consultation.
• Define our research programmes – use the Research Agenda to inform our Core research and development program and influence the direction of our collaborative research so that we achieve a balanced portfolio of investment in the most appropriate programmes of research and knowledge management.
• Procure our research - deliver our research programmes through managed investment in the most appropriate projects, through developing our in-house technical skills base and by working with research contractors that add value.
• Control and report - implement a level of control, involvement and influence in each programme proportionate to NWL’s investment in the programme and the value of the outputs to the company.
• Benchmark industry research practices - maintain a best practice approach to investment in research and knowledge management that is consistent with our vision of national leadership.
Technology watch KPIs
• Extent of business-wide consultation.
• Percentage of Internal customer feedback on consultation and relevance of research programme positive or neutral.
• NWL involved or represented in relevant collaborative research programmes.
• NWL involved or represented in relevant knowledge networks.
• Research & technology outputs disseminated and actioned/planned as appropriate.
Technology watch case study
Remote service reservoir inspection and cleaning
• Technical evaluation of ‘live’ inspection and cleaning service using remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), from Panton McLeod.
• Clear objectives of technical trial.
• Demonstrate acceptable inspection and cleaning of treated water reservoirs that cannot be taken out of service due to lack of adequate bypass and valving arrangements; and
• Delivery of a more cost-effective solution for the cleaning and inspection of treated water reservoirs generally.
• Straightforward trial of the service on real assets, with the appropriate safety precautions in place; independent assessment of cleaning and inspection.
• Both inspection and cleaning found to be very effective, exceeding expectations of many observers.
• Equipment now recommended for use in NWL – saving money and affording access to previously inaccessible locations.