The massive £12 billion drive to reduce combined sewer overflows (CSOs) by 45% in AMP8 is now underway and includes major schemes to increase storage capacity and modernise sewer networks, writes Andrew Welsh, director at Xylem.
Smart pumping station design underpins efforts, with utilities also applying wider network optimisation and catchment management to programmes. This is a step-change, made possible by next-level data collection transforming conventional pumping systems into intelligent, insight-led assets.
For companies exploring their pump technology options, these points are worth considering:
Pumps are smarter
Rapid development of pump technology over the past decade gives utilities the tools to build smart systems that can be controlled and monitored remotely.
Pumps with built-in intelligence and sensors are capable of automatically adjusting their own speed, can connect to central systems and cloud platforms, and collect real-time data for fault diagnosis and proactive maintenance. These capabilities make the pumping process more reliable, saving energy, and reducing operating and maintenance costs.
Xylem’s Flygt Concertor pump range, for example, automatically adjusts its duty point to changing conditions. The pump’s specialist software also detects clogs and can reverse direction to unblock them.
Xylem partnered with Yorkshire Water on a dynamic maintenance programme, supported by Flygt Concertor pumps, which led to:
- A 51% reduction in reactive visits
- A 13% reduction in energy consumption, equating to cost savings of approximately £45k per month
- An expected return-on-investment of 140%
Whole catchment insights are possible
With the right products in place, a pumping station can provide real-time insights into not just the individual asset, but the catchment as a whole.
For example, information can be presented about weather conditions and the capacity in the wider sewer network to store, treat or divert stormwater – insights that allow companies to take the necessary steps to avoid a spill. If conditions mean a spill is unavoidable, operators, guided by data, can control where it occurs to have the least impact on the environment.
This catchment-wide approach is an aspiration of many – but more extreme, less predictable rainfall patterns will make it a must-have in the not-to-distant future. The technology is already available to make business-as-usual by 2030.
Digital monitoring supports net zero
A project with Scottish Water has also led to big energy savings. In 2019, the utility trialled the Flygt Concertor pumping system in several pumping stations, with the goal of reducing wastewater energy consumption and reactive callouts.
The project gave an understanding of potential energy savings, which led to more trials, before wider adoption of hundreds of pumps.
With the launch of Xylem’s digital platform for remote pump monitoring, Avensor, Scottish Water saw an opportunity to make its operations more efficient. By early 2025, Avensor had been successfully installed in 261 pump stations for Scottish Water.
Another digital platform – Xylem Vue powered by GoAigua (XVPGA) – goes one step further by integrating and standardising data not just from pumping stations, but from across the utility.
Equipment availability is key
Over the last five years, water companies have put great effort into creating a supply chain that ensures 100% availability of wastewater pumps. Xylem has wastewater pump frameworks in place with all water companies in UK & Ireland – agreements include supplying contingency stocks, next-day delivery and installation with 48 hours.
With many thousands of pump products on the market, we advise companies apply standardisation and rationalisation to streamline their procurement processes.
Andrew Welsh will be attending the Water Equipment Show at the Telford International Centre on 15 May 2025, if you would like to discuss how smart pumping can reduce CSO spills.
