A long-lasting partnership that set the early foundations for OCU Water.
OCU is very proud of its long-standing and ongoing relationship with Dwr Cymru Welsh Water (DCWW). The Pressurised Pipe Framework was one of the first major frameworks that OCU mobilised in the water sector and to this day has been one of our most successful.
OCU first won a place on the DCWW Pressurised Pipe framework back in 2011, which was put in place by Dwr Cymru Welsh Water to carry out a range of works predominantly on the clean water pressurised pipe network In Wales.
This framework helped form the early foundations of the OCU Water business, where our expert water teams’ now work with over half of the water and wastewater providers across England and Wales. These providers, governed by Ofwat’s latest determinations, are projected to invest more than £70 billion in water infrastructure over the next five years.
As a trusted partner in consultation, design, build, and maintenance, we’re proud to play a central role in delivering this critical and sustainable infrastructure for so many communities.
Pressurised pipe framework
Working directly for DCWW as a tier one contractor, OCU is proud to have delivered a wide variety of works under this contract, such as:
Mains rehabilitation works – including ice pigging
New trunk main installations – emergency and planned
Large diameter sewer rising mains
Major HDD crossings – under rivers/railways/estuaries and more
Developer services – contestable and non-contestable works
24/7 reactive main repairs – predominantly high risk, trunk mains and complex works
Delivering ongoing client solutions
OCU are a market leader in undertaking works on live mains and under pressure connections and where our teams or our clients deem the works to be of a specialist nature. Our direct labour and supply chain partners work under our expert supervision to deliver successful outcomes with no interruption to service.
OCU has a culture and strong reputation as a courteous and considerate contractor. This, combined with our strong delivery history, enables us to build and maintain effective working relationships with local authorities.
We have a ‘programme first’ approach which helps us to drive efficiencies and keep costs down for our clients. Our team of P6 planners ensure no downtime and effective deployment of all resources.
Due to OCU’s experienced and highly capable workforce we are tasked with some of the toughest jobs regardless of their location. Our can-do attitude has been tested more than once by Welsh geography, which we have overcome on several occasions, including using helicopters to deliver pipes and materials.
After more than 15 years working in Wales with DCWW we have built up a strong direct labour workforce and excellent delivery reputation that enables us to find the right resources for the job, exactly when it matters most.
Framework statistics
During the Mains Renewal Programme, peak outputs exceeded 30 km per annum of clean water mains replaced by OCU teams – largely by trenchless methods.
Peak workforce on the contract across North and South Wales was circa 300, including specialist supply chain. Six permanent office and yard locations located across Wales to best service the contract.
OCU is DCWW’s large diameter HDD specialist contractor of choice with several trophy projects delivered including:
A shot of over 750m of 500mm rising main under the West Wales coastal train line and Loughor estuary (SSSI) in Llangennech.
Twin 355mm OD barrier pipes installed at a length of 860m under the River Dee in Connagh’s Key from a very challenging location within a live TATA Steel Mill.
In 2020 a DCWW-OCU engineering solution stopped 39,000 customers and two hospitals from losing water during the Covid-19 pandemic, after storm Dennis washed out a Welsh hillside taking out a key strategic water main. The solution involved laying over 800m of 560mm HDPE SDR9 pipe in between two 100-year-old mains and recommissioning 3.9km of existing 600DI main, all in just over four weeks.
About OCU Group
OCU is leading the way in energy transition and utilities contracting as an innovative service provider, operating on a national scale.
Our two decades of experience in the water industry has built a reputation for delivering the full spectrum of water and wastewater treatment projects, with turnkey solutions for design, installation and commissioning.
Our regular, reactive and emergency support is relied upon by a broad range of water companies all over the UK, with an efficient, effective and environmentally friendly water and wastewater service.
The Group delivers a wide range of client focused business solutions throughout the UK and Ireland, working with a large blue-chip client base in all utility areas including Water, Power, Energy, Telecoms, Rail and Directional Drilling.
