In a powerful example of industry knowledge sharing, the groundbreaking ‘Water Industry Printfrastructure’ project by United Utilities, shared via a Spring-hosted Showcase webinar last November, has helped shape even more water sector innovation.
Encouraged by the insights from the webinar, Northumbrian Water is now forging ahead with plans to deliver the UK’s first in-situ 3D-printed underground water asset, demonstrating how shared learning can translate into sector-wide progress while eliminating duplication, reducing costs, and accelerating innovation.
United Utilities leads 3D printing innovation
United Utilities initially led the charge in successfully designing, 3D-printing, and installing a wastewater chamber. Their groundbreaking project harnessed 3D digital technology to print water and wastewater assets. They were supported by Ofwat’s Water Breakthrough Challenge in 2021 and worked in partnership with ChangeMaker3D, Manchester Metropolitan University (PrintCity), and Scottish Water.
The benefits are unprecedented. Not only does it mean that assets can be available in hours rather than days, but the project has demonstrated a 25% reduction in carbon, 20% cost savings, and a 55% reduction in labour.
Today, United Utilities has explored over 75 items that may be suitable for 3D printing and created a project hub at Wigan Wastewater Treatment Works, where employees are encouraged to visit and see examples of what has been proven to date, creating new 3D use cases based on their feedback.
Unlocking innovation through shared insight
Spring has helped United Utilities share years of valuable insights with the rest of the water sector. This knowledge sharing has given Northumbrian Water the confidence to move forward with its own plans, which Dr Angela MacOscar, head of innovation at Northumbrian Water, recently discussed.
Christine North, head of operational excellence, transformation, and innovation at United Utilities, said: “Our journey to this point has been full of valuable lessons, with both wins and setbacks. The result is a deep well of rich knowledge that we’ve proudly provided to industry peers through Spring.”
“Spring came to mind for precisely that reason – to work with us in packaging and sharing insights in a way that would be useful to others.”
“We’re committed to setting a standard for quality knowledge sharing in our industry, and using Spring as a knowledge share partner helps us to do that. Ofwat has made it clear that AMP8 demands greater collaboration to fuel faster innovation. Working with Spring not only helps prepare our business to meet those expectations but also helps the wider sector avoid re-inventing the wheel to deliver the things that matter most to our customers.”
The power of coordination in uniting the sector
Carly Perry, managing director at Spring, said: “Just as we’ve done with United Utilities, we’re dedicated to helping water companies meet Ofwat’s Innovation Fund and AMP8 requirements for high-quality knowledge sharing.”
Spring plays a pivotal role in the sector as a coordinator and champion of quality and valuable knowledge sharing. By working closely with Ofwat and water company partners, Spring is creating a culture where intelligence is pooled, priorities are aligned, and innovation insights reach the right people faster.
Carly concluded: “With the sector laser-focused on challenges like environmental improvement, climate resilience, and rebuilding public trust, Spring is gathering learnings from hundreds of projects, like Printfrastructure, to reduce duplication, lower costs, and accelerate meaningful progress for others, like Northumbrian Water. The result is an agile, more united water industry with innovation at its core.”
To gain a deeper understanding of the Printfrastructure project insights, we encourage you to contact us at [email protected].
