Services First Limited assisted in the legal and technical aspect of this project working closely with main contractor, C J O’Shea, who needed to divert an existing 1600mm diameter sewer, to enable the commercial development of apartments they were constructing for developer, Galliard Homes, to proceed as planned.

The work involved a 240m pipe-jack with three lateral connections, two end connections and associated manholes. It was originally intended to construct a new 1800mm diameter sewer to take the flow from the existing 1600mm diameter sewer but due to difficulties with the ground conditions it was agreed with the client and asset owner, Thames Water, that the new sewer could be reduced to 1500mm diameter.

J Browne were selected for this complex project as a result of previous work carried out for main contractor, C J O’Shea, their wastewater expertise as Thames Water’s largest wastewater repairs and maintenance contractor and due to their existing civils framework agreement with fibre optic network owner, Geo Metro.

As chief engineer to London’s metropolitan board of works in the mid 19th century, Bazalgette had a significant impact both on London’s appearance and, through his design of an efficient sewage system, on the health of its inhabitants.

Source BBC

The UK’s biggest water firm has announced plans to axe up to a quarter of its workforce as part of a major cost-cutting drive.

Thames Water plans to cut up to 300 jobs each year until 2010.

News of the cuts comes at a time when the German-owned firm is under fire for failing to hit leakage targets, despite profits rising 31% to £346.5m.

Source: BBC

Copies can be obtained from Water Supply and Regulation Division, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Ashdown House, 123 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6DE or from the Department’s website at www.defra.gov.uk/environment/water/legislation.

The Water Industry Act

The General Duties of Water Undertakers is contained within the water industry act.