Pipe Dreams

Lead Research Organisation: University of Sheffield
Department Name: Civil and Structural Engineering

Abstract

In the developed world most people are able to take the supply of safe clean drinking water for granted, most of the time. However water quality failures do occur and there are associated health risks. The analysis of water samples, taken at the customers tap by the UK Water Industry to meet regulatory requirements, has shown that for three consecutive years approximately 1 in every 200 samples failed to meet the standards for coliforms, an indicator of faecal contamination. The few epidemiologic studies in the area confirm that there is a problem and that it is related to the pipe infrastructure. This pipe infrastructure, used to deliver this basic human resource, is an extremely complicated mix of materials, pipe sizes and structures and appurtenances that are connected in a network, usually in loops, developed in a piecemeal manner over considerable time. This infrastructure is integral to our towns and cities and widespread replacement is unfeasible due to the associated costs and disruption. Whi1e there is existing knowledge and tools for understanding and making some predictions of the structural performance of these assets, the knowledge and applicable understanding of their water quality related performance is extremely poor.This system of buried infrastructure acts as a dynamic physical, microbiological and chemical reactor, with high surface area and with highly variable residence times. As a consequence there are a number of major and interacting physical and bio-chemical processes that degrade the quality of drinking water as it is transported. The situation is further complicated by the unknown, but deteriorating, internal condition of the infrastructure. This Challenging Engineering vision will enable the applicant to establish a world leading multidisciplinary team to derive new knowledge of the physical bio-chemical reactions and interactions occurring within water distribution systems, dominated by the aging infrastructure. The team will integrate across engineering and microbiological, chemical and computer science. Extensive use will be made of the latest instrumentation and measurement techniques from the different disciplines, applied to experimental studies on the internationally unique, 600m long temperature controlled pipe test loop facility at the University of Sheffield and ambitious live field trials with UK water companies (both areas of particular expertise of the applicant). The new understanding and knowledge gained will be applied to develop a suite of analysis and predictive tools to drive a paradigm shift in the way in which water distribution systems are operated, managed, rehabilitated and maintained for water quality with a move towards proactive management operating in near real time.The project is extremely ambitious, but presents the opportunity for the UK to establish an area of international expertise and to lead the world in an expanding research area of public interest and significance. The most apparent output will be superior water quality at least cost, consistent with the demands of an increasingly well informed society, leading to enhanced public health and well being. In the longer term, the multidisciplinary team will evolve by seeking to further develop the multidisciplinary approach for the even more complex environments of the complete urban water cycle and seek to stimulate further change for integrated, holistic and sustainable management across the cycle.

Publications

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Sunny I (2017) Quantity and quality benefits of in-service invasive cleaning of trunk mains in Drinking Water Engineering and Science

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Douterelo I (2017) Spatial and temporal analogies in microbial communities in natural drinking water biofilms. in The Science of the total environment

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Douterelo I (2018) Whole metagenome sequencing of chlorinated drinking water distribution systems in Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology

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Sharpe R (2019) Hydraulic conditioning to manage potable water discolouration in Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Water Management

 
Description Pipe Dreams has driven a paradigm shift in the way in which the performance of water distribution systems are understood, operated, managed, rehabilitated and maintained with a move to a proactive monitoring, modelling and control strategies that operate in near real time. In particular we have changed the perception of water distribution systems from inert transport systems, to highly complex, highly variable, high surface area ecosystems.

The work was based on the development of a multidisciplinary team that derived knowledge of the physical and bio-chemical reactions and interactions occurring within water distribution systems, dominated by the internal condition of the ageing infrastructure. The resulting new knowledge, tools and techniques are applicable and sufficiently flexible to maximise the performance of existing ageing buried pipe infrastructure. This is helping to ensure that it is possible to meet the varied operating conditions likely to results from climate change, increasing population densities and society demands for the 21st Century and beyond and hence to deliver safe and secure drinking water, ensuring public health and well being.

Specific objectives met are:
1. Established an international, multidisciplinary centre of excellence in research addressing all aspects of the continued delivery of clean, safe and wholesome potable water.
2. Integration of microbiological, chemical and computing science with engineering within a multidisciplinary team leading to better understand the complex physical, chemical and biological interactions that occur within water distribution systems.
3. We have delivered better understanding of the processes and mechanisms of potable water infrastructure deterioration and quantified the water quality related processes associated with such deterioration.
4. We have develop techniques, tools and models that quantify the interactions between the physical, chemical and biological processes that occur within distribution systems and hence can assess how water quality changes.
5. We have developed artificial intelligence and modelling tools to integrate structural and water quality performance in a suite of operation and management tools.
6. We have promoted new remedial strategies, in particular operational approaches that result in substantial financial savings and water quality benefits.
7. We have engaged with and disseminated results to the worldwide water industry, academia and the public.

In addition to these original objectives the flexibility, scale and prestige of the challenging engineering award has been used to stimulate a variety of further associated research and activity as listed in the various outputs and further funding.
Exploitation Route The various tools and techniques developed have been widely and freely disseminated to the water sector internationally, and many have been taken up and adopted by professional practitioners from water companies, consultants and associated supply chain. As an example of policy change, Northumbrian Water engaged Prof. Boxall and Dr. Husband as expert advisers and reviewers of their complete set of distribution system operational practice documentation. And as an example of economic impact, Wessex Water have reported multi-million pound savings from initial implementation of new operational procedures for trunk mains on pipe lengths representing less than 5% of their total system.
Sectors Environment

Other

URL http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/pipedreams
 
Description The active and continued engagement with the water sector has led to substantial impact. Application of the knowledge, tools and techniques developed have led to efficiencies in water distribution systems operation and maintenance and to improved potable water quality. This is essential to help us meet the combined impacts of climate and population change with an ageing and deteriorating asset base. The most tangible route to impact has been through the PODDS consortium, www.PODDS.co.uk. It provides an ideal route to deliver the knowledge and understanding derived in Pipe Dreams into practice within the UK water sector. This impact was detailed in a leading REF2014 case study. Independent trade press and public engagement articles evidencing the ongoing impact and benefits include: Northumbrian Water WWT September 2016 "90% capital cost reduction " and "..reduce the £170/m cleaning cost associated with traditional methods to £17/m.." (http://wwtonline.co.uk/news/northumbrian--source-to-tap-approach-reduces-water-discolouration); and Scottish Water - Vision June 2016 "forecasting a £15m saving". This ongoing impact is in the final stages of preparation for a REF2021 case study that includes over £400M economic impact and contributing to one third improvement in levels of service. The post 2014 impact is firmly founded on the research that was enabled and conducted through Pipe Dreams.
First Year Of Impact 2010
Sector Environment,Other
Impact Types Societal

Economic

 
Description Antibacterial pipe lining. Exploring technology transfer for shipping sector and the development and application of flow cytometry and optical coherence tomography measurement techniques to pipe biofilms.
Amount £46,000 (GBP)
Organisation Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 01/2019 
End 06/2019
 
Description Assessment of the impact of mains cleaning and semi-structural lining on burst frequency
Amount £27,000 (GBP)
Organisation Yorkshire Water 
Sector Private
Country United Kingdom
Start 12/2011 
End 05/2012
 
Description Clean Water for All
Amount £18,640 (GBP)
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 01/2014 
End 12/2014
 
Description Combined Sewer Overflow Anayltics #2b - to enable refinement and validation of algorithms and to enable wider company role out.
Amount £28,000 (GBP)
Organisation Yorkshire Water 
Sector Private
Country United Kingdom
Start 08/2014 
End 03/2015
 
Description Data mining project funded by Anglian Water
Amount £27,000 (GBP)
Organisation Anglian Water Services 
Sector Private
Country United Kingdom
Start 07/2012 
End 03/2013
 
Description Deploying Synthetic Biology in the Water Industry
Amount £202,000 (GBP)
Funding ID EP/H023488/1 
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 01/2010 
End 02/2011
 
Description Deriving information from data for water quality time series data
Amount £26,000 (GBP)
Organisation Intellitect Water 
Sector Private
Country United Kingdom
Start 06/2015 
End 01/2016
 
Description Deterioration of quality in water mains due to stagnation #3 - extension of phase 2 analysis to large scale data set to provide formal model validation and transferability.
Amount £48,000 (GBP)
Organisation Anglian Water Services 
Sector Private
Country United Kingdom
Start 07/2014 
End 02/2015
 
Description Discolouration research for Welsh Water - Transforming Welsh Water operational and maintenance practices and undertaking novel field and laboratory studies to deliver fundamental new knowledge of the environmental factors affecting pipe fouling.
Amount £148,000 (GBP)
Organisation Welsh Water 
Sector Private
Country United Kingdom
Start 06/2014 
End 01/2016
 
Description EPSRC LWEC Fellowship
Amount £369,071 (GBP)
Funding ID EP/N02950X/1 
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 08/2016 
End 08/2019
 
Description EPSRC STREAM EngD with United Utilities
Amount £50,000 (GBP)
Organisation United Utilities Group PLC 
Sector Private
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2015 
End 09/2019
 
Description Iron Compliance and Flushing
Amount £176,000 (GBP)
Organisation Yorkshire Water 
Sector Private
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2020 
End 10/2021
 
Description KTP Project - For the use of customer side temperature data for leak detection and location
Amount £198,784 (GBP)
Organisation Innovate UK 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2019 
End 02/2021
 
Description KTP project for the development and implementation artificial intelligence based pump control in sewer systems
Amount £129,996 (GBP)
Organisation Innovate UK 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2011 
End 09/2013
 
Description Novel multi variate data analysis
Amount £50,000 (GBP)
Organisation Scottish Water 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 06/2016 
End 12/2016
 
Description Peninne Water Group: Urban Water Systems for a Changing World. Platform Grant Renewal
Amount £1,229,675 (GBP)
Funding ID EP/I029346/1 
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2011 
End 03/2016
 
Description Predicting iron failures - Application of soft computing knowledge discovery and data modelling tools to enable Welsh Water to transform their iron compliance performance.
Amount £68,000 (GBP)
Organisation Welsh Water 
Sector Private
Country United Kingdom
Start 07/2014 
End 02/2015
 
Description Real-time condition monitoring and early warning of failure of potable water using novel fluorescence spectroscopy instrumentation
Amount £384,796 (GBP)
Funding ID EP/I001379/1 and EP/I001468/1 
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 08/2010 
End 03/2014
 
Description STREAM EngD - Biofouling and holistic water supply management
Amount £50,000 (GBP)
Organisation South Staffs Water 
Sector Private
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2016 
End 09/2020
 
Description STREAM EngD - Understanding the Relationships Between Assimilable Organic Carbon and Microbiology in the Water Distribution Systems
Amount £93,000 (GBP)
Organisation Scottish Water 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2014 
End 09/2018
 
Description STREAM EngD Future Water Network - project to develop a strategy and evaluation procedure to test and where appropriate implement relevant tools and techniques to create the next generation of water distribution networks for Anglian Water.
Amount £48,000 (GBP)
Organisation Anglian Water Services 
Sector Private
Country United Kingdom
Start 09/2013 
End 09/2017
 
Description Scottish Water discolouration research
Amount £148,000 (GBP)
Organisation Scottish Water 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 11/2013 
End 10/2016
 
Description Service Reservoir Integrity
Amount £100,000 (GBP)
Organisation Welsh Water 
Sector Private
Country United Kingdom
Start 08/2019 
End 09/2023
 
Description Smart Water 4 Europe
Amount € 309,000 (EUR)
Funding ID 619024 
Organisation European Commission 
Department Seventh Framework Programme (FP7)
Sector Public
Country European Union (EU)
Start 01/2014 
End 12/2018
 
Description Stagnation data mining Phase II project
Amount £44,250 (GBP)
Organisation Anglian Water Services 
Sector Private
Country United Kingdom
Start 07/2013 
End 02/2014
 
Description Synthetic biology biosensors for water quality detection
Amount £26,000 (GBP)
Funding ID EPSRC Kick Start 
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 12/2011 
End 05/2012
 
Description TWENTY 65: Water Grand Challenge
Amount £3,963,000 (GBP)
Funding ID EP/N010124/1 
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 02/2016 
End 01/2021
 
Description Treatment to Tap
Amount £57,000 (GBP)
Organisation Siemens AG 
Department Siemens plc
Sector Private
Country United Kingdom
Start 08/2019 
End 09/2023
 
Description UKWIR Drinking Water Quality Big Question
Amount £30,000 (GBP)
Organisation UK Water Industry Research Ltd 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 08/2016 
End 03/2017
 
Description WIRe Water Infrastructure REsilience Centre for Doctoral Training
Amount £6,149,000 (GBP)
Funding ID EP/S023666/1 
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2019 
End 09/2027
 
Title Whole metagenome sequencing data 
Description Sequencing data used for the research paper Whole metagenome sequencing of chlorinated drinking water distribution systems Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2018,4, 2080-2091. The data was deposited and is openly accessible in the MG-RAST server under project number ID MGP80824. 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2018 
Provided To Others? Yes  
Impact Understanding of the whole genome content of microbial biofilms in drinking water distribution systems. 
URL https://www.mg-rast.org/mgmain.html?mgpage=project&project=mgp80824
 
Description Collaboration with Anglian Water 
Organisation Anglian Water Services
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Anglian Water have been an active member of our steering committee
Collaborator Contribution project steering committee
Impact policy and practice in AW
Start Year 2009
 
Description Collaboration with Northumbrian Water 
Organisation Northumbrian Water
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Collaboration with Severn Trent Water / United Utilities / Northumbrian Water throughout the course of the project in the application of the created technology to real world treatment and supply conditions (e.g. collection and monitoring of sample waters).
Collaborator Contribution Membership of steering committee, direction, advice, comparative analysis and field testing
Impact Field testing leading to reports, publications and follow on funding
Start Year 2011
 
Description Collaboration with Severn Trent Water 
Organisation Severn Trent Water
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Collaboration with Severn Trent Water / United Utilities / Northumbrian Water throughout the course of the project in the application of the created technology to real world treatment and supply conditions (e.g. collection and monitoring of sample waters).
Collaborator Contribution Membership of steering committee, direction, advice, comparative analysis and field testing
Impact Field testing and comparative analysis leading to reports, publications and further funding
Start Year 2011
 
Description Collaboration with Siemens 
Organisation Siemens AG
Department Siemens plc
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Collaboration with Siemens, with a focus on the potential for digital water. Exploring routes to deliver impact from various early stage research, through development, validation and role out. This crosses AI application for combined sewer spills, leakage and discolouration.
Collaborator Contribution Development of algorithms and technologies from research prototypes into cloud based supported software and apps suitable for business critical application and day to day use.
Impact Combined Sewer Overflow software, spun out with Yorkshire Water
Start Year 2016
 
Description Collaboration with US-EPA 
Organisation United States Environmental Protection Agency
Country United States 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Setting up of collaborations with the United States Environmental Protection Agency. USEPA having read one of our publications on contaminant ingress contacted us, with regards to collaborating. This is ongoing.
Collaborator Contribution Collaboration on experimental facilities and activities
Impact none
Start Year 2012
 
Description Collaboration with United Utilities 
Organisation United Utilities Group PLC
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution United Utilities have been an active member of the project steering committee
Collaborator Contribution project steering committee
Impact Policy and practice within UU
Start Year 2008
 
Description Collaboration with United Utilities 
Organisation United Utilities Group PLC
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Collaboration with Severn Trent Water / United Utilities / Northumbrian Water throughout the course of the project in the application of the created technology to real world treatment and supply conditions (e.g. collection and monitoring of sample waters).
Collaborator Contribution Membership of steering committee, direction, advice, comparative analysis and field testing
Impact Field testing and comparative analysis leading to reports, publications and further funding
Start Year 2011
 
Description Collaboration with Yorkshire Water 
Organisation Yorkshire Water
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Private 
PI Contribution Yorkshire Water have been an active member of the steering group for this project
Collaborator Contribution project steering committee
Impact policy and practice in YW
Start Year 2009
 
Description Collboration with Ecole Polytechnique Montreal 
Organisation École Polytechnique de Montréal
Country Canada 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Collaboration with Marie-Claude Besner and Gabrielle Ebacher, at the Ecole Polytechnique Montreal. This has been ongoing since the beginning of the project, there has been repeated exchange of ideas and the field data.
Collaborator Contribution Exchange of ideas and field data
Impact Collaborative papers, presentations and papers as listed
Start Year 2009
 
Title Integration of discolouration model functionality into leading international comercial software packages 
Description Openly available version of the software was developed, publicized and widely used in specific case studies. Following practitioner uptake and demand this has now been incorporated into leading commercial software packages used by water companies internationally. Packages include Synergi, produced by DNV-GL and Infoworks, produced by Innovyze. Water companies would not reply on the freeware versions for business critical activities, and requested that their software providers integrated our research model functionality. 
Type Of Technology Software 
Year Produced 2015 
Impact Wide spread use and application of research outputs to deliver service improvements and efficiency of operation and maintenance of drinking water distribution systems. 
URL https://www.dnvgl.com/news/dnv-gl-collaboration-with-university-of-sheffield-brings-new-tool-to-syne...
 
Description Analysis of Drinking Water Biofilm Physical Structure 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact Invited talk, Dr Kat Fish (2014)
Analysis of Drinking Water Biofilm Physical Structure
June 9th, Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Sheffield
talk sparked questions and discussion

Interdepartmental links
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014
 
Description Anglian Water Drinking Water Innovation day 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Hosted a day with Anglian Water drinking water scientists, engineers and managers to explore and present latest research and future ideas.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description Biofilms in Drinking Water Distribution Systems 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Type Of Presentation poster presentation
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact Poster presentation at the Kroto Research Institute.
talk sparked questions and discussion

Interdepartmental collaborations
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2010
 
Description Data driven approaches for obtaining network knowledge from online distribution system sensors 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Type Of Presentation keynote/invited speaker
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Invited presentation, Dr Steve Mounce (2013)
Data driven approaches for obtaining network knowledge from online distribution system sensors
Sensing in Water 2013 annual conference, Nottingham, September 25-26th.
Large industry and academic event.
Presentation sparked questions and discussion with water industry attendees.

Interest from United Utilities in meeting in late 2014 to discuss online approaches for CSO monitoring.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Deriving Knowledge from Data for Water Distribution Systems 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Type Of Presentation workshop facilitator
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Bridging The Gaps Industry Event (2009)
Deriving Knowledge from Data for Water Distribution Systems
DWI and UK water companies represented and researchers.
30 July 2009
Discussion between industry and academia


.

Follow up from industrial attendees that fed into Pipe Dreams.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2009
 
Description Discover STEM speed networking - Dr Katherine Fish 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Speed networking event, to inspire post-16 year olds into STEM subjects and provide an opportunity for them to find out more about university life and the use of their degrees after undergraduate level. This provided a platform for me to share our water research and highlight the way that a STEM degree can lead to applied research such as our projects regarding water quality.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL http://www.shef.ac.uk/outreach/post16/stem/index
 
Description Hosting the 15th International conference on Computnig and Control for the Water Industry 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The University of Sheffield hosted the 15th International Conference on Computing and control for the water industry with over 150 delegates from around the world
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/ccwi/2017
 
Description International Visit by Sung Kyu Maeng 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact International visit by Sung Kyu Maeng, Sejong University Korea, February 2018-February 2019.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Invited 'master class': What is in the pipe line? 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Invited 'master class', Prof Joby Boxall (2012)
What is in the pipe line?
22nd November, Yorkshire Water Services.

Presentation at Yorkshire Water Services for industry

Future funding opportunities
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2012
 
Description Invited Talk - What happens within distribution pipelines and how does it affect drinking water quality? 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Other audiences
Results and Impact Invited talk, Kat Fish (2014)
What happens within distribution pipelines and how does it affect drinking water quality?
April 9th, School of Civil Engineering, University of Leeds, Pathogen Control Engineering (PaCE) Institute Seminar Series.

Talk sparked questions and discussion.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014
 
Description Invited talk What is in the pipe line?' 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.)
Results and Impact Invited talk, Prof Joby Boxall (2013)
What is in the pipe line?
October 7th, School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, Infrastructure & Environment Division Seminar Series.

Further collaboration with Scottish Water
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Invited talk at Instute of Water Northern Area Event. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Dr Katherine Fish gave a talk titled 'Exploring the biofilms in our drinking water distribution systems'. Full day also included networking events and debate. Lead to connections with SME companies for further funding.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Invited talk to EWB 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact Invited Talk, Ms. Katherine Fish (2012)
Microbial ecology of drinking water systems (treatment and distribution)
Engineers Without Borders (EWB) Group

talk sparked questions and discussion afterwards

Increased awareness of Pipe Dreams
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2012
 
Description Invited talk: What is in the pipe line? 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Invited talk, Prof Joby Boxall (2013)
What is in the pipe line?
27th February, Scottish Water.

Talk sparked questions and discussion afterwards.

Further funding with Scottish Water including for PhD.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Microbiology in Distribution Systems 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Type Of Presentation keynote/invited speaker
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Potable Water Treatment and Supply Network (WatNet) Meeting, March 2009
Microbiology in Distribution Systems, Invited speaker Thomas Egli from EQWAG, University of Sheffield.

Talk sparked questions and discussion

International links
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2009
 
Description Microorganisms in drinking water networks 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.)
Results and Impact Invited talk, Dr Isabel Douterelo (2014)
Microorganisms in drinking water networks
19 September, Environmental Metagenomics Symposium, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO), Wageningen, The Netherlands
talk sparked questions and discussion

International links
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014
 
Description Pennine Water Group presentation day 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Type Of Presentation poster presentation
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact Oral presentation to Pennine Water Group members at the group presentation day.

http://www.shef.ac.uk/penninewatergroup

Stimulate group thinking and awareness
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2012
 
Description Pipe Dream's website 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.)
Results and Impact http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/pipedreams

Online presence

Used by academics and industry for further information about Pipe Dreams
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2009
URL http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/pipedreams
 
Description Pipe Dreams (CICADA) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.)
Results and Impact Invited Seminar, Pipe Dreams
March 2011, CICADA Seminar, University of Manchester.
Talk sparked questions and discussion

Links with Manchester ultimately led to joint paper and a proposal currently in preparation
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2011
 
Description Pipe Dreams (CS, Manchester) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact Invited seminar, Pipe Dreams
November 2011, Computer Science, University of Manchester.
talk sparked questions and discussion

Links with Manchester have resulted in a joint paper submitted, and a joint proposal currently in process.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2011
 
Description Pipe Dreams (Canada) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Invited talk, Pipe Dreams
November 2011, Ecole Polytechnique, Montreal (including Canadian Water Companies).
Talk sparked questions and discussion

International links.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2011
 
Description Pipe Dreams (KWR) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Invited Seminar, Pipe Dreams
December 2010, TU Delft/KWR, Netherlands.

Talk sparked questions and discussion

Subsequently led to formal collaboration with KWR
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2010
 
Description Pipe Dreams (Time Well Spent) 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Invited Talk, Prof Joby Boxall, Pipe Dreams
January 2010, Time Well Spent (Public Engagement)

Public engagement at a regional level
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2010
 
Description Pipe Dreams (U3A) 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Invited speaker at U3A month series of talks, Sheffield, Feb 2012. The talk led to questions and raised interest in the audience.

The talk raised public awareness and interest
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2012
 
Description Pipe Dreams - what's in the pipeline? 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? Yes
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Part of WaterR2B a tool to help in that process of enabling researchers to work more closely with key end-users in industry, government and the third sector.



The WaterR2B portal is an output of the NERC Water Security Knowledge Exchange Programme WSKEP.







http://www.waterr2b.net/sectors/water-utilities/pipeline/

Interest generated online
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
URL http://wskep.net/waterr2b/sectors/water-utilities/pipeline/
 
Description Pipe Dreams Award Talk 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Type Of Presentation keynote/invited speaker
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Invited Presentation, Pipe Dreams Award
December 2008, Potable Water Treatment and Supply Network (WatNet) Meeting.

Talk sparked questions and discussion

Industry awareness and opinion
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2008
 
Description Pipe Dreams Talk 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.)
Results and Impact Prof Joby Boxall (2014)
Pipe Dreams
Invited key note talk at the Water Treatment and Supply Network Conference, Cranfield UK,18/9/14.
Talk led to questions and discussion


Follow up on future research after Pipe Dreams
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014
 
Description Pipe Dreams Year 1 Event 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Type Of Presentation workshop facilitator
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Pipe Dreams Year 1 Event
Companies represented included Severn Trent Water and Yorkshire Water Services.
18 August 2010, University of Sheffield

Event sparked questions and discussion

.

Industry input helped shape Pipe Dreams future research
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2010
 
Description Pipe Dreams Year 2 Event 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Type Of Presentation workshop facilitator
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Pipe Dreams Year 2 Event (2011)
Companies represented included Anglian Water, Northumbrian Water, Severn Trent Water, Thames Water, United Utilities, Wessex Water and Yorkshire Water Services.
23 August 2011, University of Sheffield
Event sparked questions and discussion, and industry input into future phases of pipe dreams
Research speakers described under contributors


.

Ultimately lead to spin off projects with further funding through individual water companies.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2011
 
Description Pipe Dreams Year 3 Event 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Type Of Presentation workshop facilitator
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Yearly dissemination event, One day event with presentations and laboratory demonstrations. Companies represented included Anglian Water, Northumbrian Water, Severn Trent Water, United Utilities, Yorkshire Water Services, UKWIR, Morrisons and WRc.
Event sparked questions and discussion, and industry input on future work.


Follow on individual water company interest in particular areas, ultimately leading to direct industry funding.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2012
 
Description Pipe Dreams Year 4 Event 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Type Of Presentation workshop facilitator
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Yearly dissemination event, One day event with presentations and laboratory / show case demonstrations. Companies represented included Anglian Water, Northumbrian Water, Scottish Water, Severn Trent Water, Thames Water, United Utilities, Wessex Water, Yorkshire Water Services, UKWIR, Morrisons and WRc.



Significant follow on interest.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Pipe Dreams Year 5 Final Event (2014) 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Pipe Dreams Year 5 Final Event (2014)
Companies represented included Affinity Water, DCC Welsh Water, Northumbrian Water, Scottish Water,
Severn Trent Water, South East Water, Thames Water, United Utilities, Wessex Water, Yorkshire Water
Services as well as the DWI and WRc. (70 attendees). Presentations and demonstrations.
3rd July, University of Sheffield
Feedback from industry


Follow on interest for future collaborations from industry, requests for further information, featured by EPSRc in article.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014
 
Description Pipe Dreams and Artificial Intelligence 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.)
Results and Impact Invited external seminar, Dr Steve Mounce (2013)
Pipe Dreams and AI
7th February, Computer Science, University of Exeter.

Invited external guest speaker at Computer Science seminar series - prompted Q&A and follow on discussions.

Follow on interest in Pipe Dreams and future collaborations.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Pipe Dreams: Bacterial diversity in drinking water distribution systems 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.)
Results and Impact Invited talk, Dr Isabel Douterelo (2012)
Pipe Dreams: Bacterial diversity in drinking water distribution systems
November, KWR, Netherlands.

Talk sparked questions and discussion and plans for future collaboration

This and other activity led to PWG having a visiting KWR researcher.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2012
 
Description Pipe Dreams: Exploring the world of biofilms within pipe networks 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Article, Prof Joby Boxall and Mr. Paul Raven (2014)
Pipe Dreams: Exploring the world of biofilms within pipe networks
Water and Wastewater Treatment magazine, pp. 33-34, November 2014

Article just published, but email contact from a company interested in biofilms.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014
 
Description Poster presentation to MPs at House of Commons 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Katherine Fish was selected by a panel to present her poster entitled "What's in the Pipeline? The impact of biofilms on drinking water quality" to MPs, policy makers, industry and academics at the STEM for Britain event held at the House of Commons, Westminster. The event expanded her network base and confidence in public engagement as well as leading to interesting discussions with policy makers regarding water and public health.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL http://www.setforbritain.org.uk/2018winners.asp
 
Description Presentation at TWENTY 65 Conference. Manchester UK. 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Presentation at the TWENTY 65 Conference. Manchester UK. Using advances in genetics for countering the effects of climate change in drinking water systems.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Presentation at WDSA 2012, Adelaide, Australia 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Type Of Presentation paper presentation
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Joby Boxall gave a presentation of a conference paper at the Water Distribution Systems Analysis, WDSA, at Adelaide, Australia, in 2012.

International academic interest and collaboration
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description SWIG Water and Public Health 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Katherine Fish was invited to attend the SWIG Water and Public Health workshop on 31/01/2018, held in Bristol, UK. The workshop included a keynote talk from Public Health England giving an overview of waterborne disease followed by presentations from companies and researchers. K. Fish gave a presentation entitled "Biofilms and Water Quality", addressing the impact that biofilms have upon drinking water and the need to consider them despite regulations being focused on bacterial analysis of bulk-water only, via culture based methods. The talks all led to significant debate in the networking breaks of the workshop, which has led to a potential collaboration and definite support for a potential responsive mode proposal.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL http://www.swig.org.uk/event/water-health-workshop/
 
Description School Visit (Tapton High School) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact Katherine Fish visited Tapton School as part of their Science Seminar Schedule and gave a talk regarding biofilms, ecology, water distribution systems and water quality. The seminar was designed to give the students an insight into university lectures and also the interdisciplinary nature of research, with a view to showing that taking a science subject at degree level has many options afterwards. Mr Harris reported: "It is interesting to note that last years A-Level cohort were Tapton's best ever results and placed Tapton 18th Comprehensive school nationally, top 5 outside of London and the South East with 15 Oxbridge entries. It is no coincidence that these students benefited from two years of Science Seminars. We are massively grateful for your support in this endeavour."
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2020
URL http://thinkahead.group.shef.ac.uk/2018/09/05/development-give-a-research-seminar-at-a-local-school/
 
Description Seminar with Special Interest Group BIAPWS 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Industry/Business
Results and Impact Katherine Fish was invited to engage with the British and Irish Association for the Properties of Water and Steam (BIAPWS). She delivered a seminar entitled "Biofilms: What, Why and How?" at one of the groups technical meetings held on 16/10/2018. The purpose was to share with the group the research into biofilms and their impacts on water quality which is being undertaken at Sheffield University and highlight areas that may be of interest to them for future work.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Sheffield Festival of Science and Engineering (March 2017). Climate change and water resources: uncertainties and challenges. 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact A series of talks from Isabel Douterelo Soler, Joby Boxall and Christian Berretta on Climate change and water resources: uncertainties and challenges. And subsequent debate and discussion.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description VCDM presentations at PODDS IV steering group meetings 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Presentations to industrial PODDS steering meetings on Pipe Dream's research by Will Furnass.
9th meeting 19th July 2012, University of Sheffield, presentation.
10th Meeting 23rd October 2012, University of Sheffield. Will Furnass presented information on the progress of the VCDM with slides forming part of his presentation at the New Developments in IT & Water Conference, Amsterdam 4-6 November 2012
Talk sparked questions and discussion afterwards.
11th Meeting 23rd January 2013, University of Sheffield. Will Furnass presented information on the progress of the VCDM with slides forming part of his presentation.

Industry datasets and participation with Pipedreams PhD
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2012
 
Description Water Quality Data Analysis for Distribution Systems Invited Talk 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Type Of Presentation keynote/invited speaker
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Dr Steve Mounce, Invited Presentation, Water Quality Data Analysis for Distribution Systems
6 July 2011, Potable Water Treatment and Supply Network (WatNet) Meeting, University of Birmingham.
Talk sparked questions and discussion

Further collaboratiosn with University of Birmingham
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2011