Thames Water recently completed over £50m worth of infrastructure upgrades across North London.
The aim is to boost resilience, mitigate the risk of bursts and leaks, future proof its clean water supply and meet the need for safe, resilient water supplies.
The utility’s assets have an average asset age of 79 years compared to the industry average of 56 years.
It is the only company in the industry where almost 40% of its assets are over 100 years old.*
Thames Water’s network also faces challenges from a growing population, with the highest population density in the industry.
Population growth in London between 1981 and 2022 was 30%, compared to 19% across the UK.
Completed clean water infrastructure projects in North London include:
• Seven Sisters Road: 2.4km of pipe, £21.1m scheme
• Fortis Green: 2.4km of pipe, £16.8m scheme
• Regent’s Park: 1.4km of pipe, £12m scheme
• New River: 778m of flooding defence, £6m scheme
• Offord Road – 722m of pipe, £1.8m scheme
The mains replacement schemes above used a mixture of traditional open-cut trenching, sliplining and microtunnelling.
The project to refurbish the New River’s embankment used a Giken Piling Rig, modern technology which reduces noise and vibration during construction.
Mark Taylor, Director of Delivery, London Infrastructure, Thames Water said: “Our purpose is to deliver life’s essential service, so our customers, communities and the environment can thrive.
“The effects of population growth and climate change are putting increased pressure on our ageing water pipes across the capital.
“We have a long-term commitment to improving infrastructure resilience, environmental performance, and service to customers and our mains replacement programme across London is vital to achieving this.
“We’ve been targeting the areas that need upgrading the most, first, and will be continuing to invest in the capital with further mains replacement projects over the next five years.”
Thames Water is embarking on its biggest network upgrade in 150 years over the next five years (2025-2030) as part of a £20bn ground-breaking programme.
New projects have already begun in Brent, Enfield and Tower Hamlets, among others.
Over 30km of pipe will be re-laid in the first year of the investment across 11 projects in the boroughs, with total investment of around £60m.
More than 10km of this will be in Brent, a £14m project, while a seven-kilometre project is underway in Enfield, costing £15m.
More information around specific Thames Water improvements here.
*Thames Water’s five year plan – Strategic Narrative
