South West Water, Glanville Environmental and Network Plus have been shortlisted for the Collaborative Excellence Award at the Utility Week Awards, following their collective efforts to reduce storm overflows across the South West.
The nomination highlights the ambition and scale of South West Water’s £16 million Infiltration Reduction Programme – the largest sewer rehabilitation project in the company’s history – delivered in partnership with Glanville Environmental and Network Plus.
Although the trio narrowly missed out on the top award, the recognition reflects the significant progress already being made in reducing spills and improving environmental outcomes across the region.
Major programme targeting high-risk overflows
Launched in 2023, the programme focused on 175 high-risk storm overflows across the wastewater network, aiming to tackle infiltration and reduce spills during what became the wettest year on record. Using advanced CCTV surveying, Artificial Intelligence and trenchless repair technologies, the teams delivered:
- More than 50 km of sewer lining
- 2,000 manhole repairs
- 240,000 metres of CCTV survey reviews
- 175 individual projects across coastal, rural and urban locations
This work is estimated to have prevented more than 4,800 storm spills in 2024 alone, removing three-quarters of the worst-performing overflows from the previous year’s list.
Collaboration and minimal impact on communities
The programme was recognised for its strong collaborative approach. Shared data systems, real-time information exchange and robust safety and quality standards enabled teams to work autonomously and adapt quickly to changing conditions and severe weather.
Trenchless repair methods helped minimise disruption, reducing the need for road closures, lowering noise levels and allowing faster completion times for communities. Targeted surveying and phased repairs also reduced excavation requirements, helping to protect local environments.
Sustainability was embedded across the programme, from emissions savings enabled by AI-guided inspections to extended asset life achieved through manhole rehabilitation and long-life sewer lining systems. With responsibility for 157 bathing waters and over 1,300 km of coastline, South West Water designed the programme to deliver immediate improvements while supporting long-term environmental resilience.
Industry comment
Hazel Tranchant, Head of Tactical Asset Management at South West Water, said:
“Being recognised among the best in the industry reflects the scale of what this programme delivered, the strength of collaboration behind it, and the rapid environmental improvements already being felt across our region. While we didn’t take home the award, the achievement lies in what this partnership has already delivered for our rivers, seas and communities.”
South West Water plans to continue building on this foundation as part of its wider investment in wastewater resilience across the South West.
