One Network, Three Waters: How to Build Resilient Potable, Wastewater and Industrial systems

The UK and Ireland are entering an intense decade for water. Regulators have set ambitious targets for leakage reduction, asset renewal and environmental performance, backed by record investment plans for 2025 to 2030. Yet risks remain acute, from storm overflow performance to supply shortfalls and rising non-household demand.

IPS Flow Systems supports potable, sewage and industrial water networks with proven thermoplastic systems, engineered containment, flow measurement and technical training that help asset owners, framework suppliers and contractors deliver compliance and resilience at pace. The opportunity is to standardise on materials and methods that cut whole-life cost, speed installation and protect water quality, while meeting tougher regulatory outcomes.

The pressure on the network is real and rising

• Record capital programmes: Ofwat’s PR24 final determinations set out about £104 billion total expenditure across 2025 to 2030, including targets for 17% leakage reduction, rollout of 10 million smart meters, and a step-up in mains renewal to over 8,000 km in five years.
• Storm overflows remain under scrutiny: In 2024, England recorded about 450,000 storm overflow discharges. Spill hours edged up to a record ~3.6 million, even as the number of incidents dipped by 2.9% versus 2023.
• Demand and supply imbalance: The National Audit Office warns of a ~5 billion litres per day water shortfall by 2050, with sector investment needs of ~£290 billion over 25 years to meet government targets.

Against that backdrop, specifiers and delivery partners need solutions that demonstrably reduce losses, improve quality, and withstand aggressive media and temperature—without slowing programmes.

Potable water: tightening the system from source to tap

What the numbers say:

• Leakage in England and Wales remained high at 48.8 litres per person per day in 2023–24; Scotland and Northern Ireland reported 80+ l/p/d. Driving leakage down is a central PR24 outcome.
• Domestic consumption is trending down to ~137 l/p/d on average, but the demand target requires deeper reductions and smarter asset management.

How IPS helps utilities, framework suppliers and contractors

1. Materials that preserve water quality: WRAS-appropriate PVC-U, PVC-C and PP systems with smooth bores and corrosion resistance reduce biofilm and headloss, while PVDF and PE serve high-purity and sensitive applications.
2. Leak-tight jointing: Weld-On solvent cements and accessories support repeatable, code-compliant joints that halve rework risk when installers follow best practice.
3. Smart measurement and balancing: Variable-area and digital flowmeters support district metering, commissioning and pressure optimisation, aligning with metering and leakage programmes.
4. Asset life by design: IPS guidance on correct support spacing, expansion compensation and isolation valve selection reduces fatigue and micro-leakage over time.
5. Delivery at programme speed: UK and Ireland stock, next-day delivery and technical support keep AMP8 projects moving even as mains renewal rates rise.

Wastewater and sewage: pollution prevention, reliability and control

What the numbers say:

• 2024’s data confirms performance is still “unacceptably high” on storm overflows, despite small improvements in event counts. In 2023, the Environment Agency recorded 464,056 spills totalling 3.61 million hours.
• PR24 also funds significant nutrient reduction and environmental programmes to curb phosphorus and improve river health.

How IPS strengthens wastewater systems

1. Engineered drainage and protection: Kessel backwater valves, lifting stations and separation technologies help prevent foul flooding, backflow and FOG-related blockages.
2. Double containment for sensitive media: DuoSafe, Poly-Flo and AgruSafe systems provide primary-plus-secondary barriers for chemical dosing and aggressive effluents, reducing incident probability and mitigation costs.
3. Chemically resistant thermoplastics: PP, PE and PVDF withstand a wide pH and temperature range for gravity sewers, rising mains and return liquors.
4. Design confidence: Tools such as Kessel Smart Select assist specifiers with unit sizing and compliance selection, accelerating submittals and lowering design risk.
5. Fire and building integration: Fire sleeves and support solutions protect penetrations and ensure safe building integration without compromising drainage performance.

Industrial and process water: resilience for critical industries

What the numbers say:

• Non-household water consumption across England was ~2,757 Ml/d in 2023–24 and is trending slightly above plan, reflecting economic activity and new demand categories.
• Data centres: new evidence suggests many English data centres use less than 10,000 m³ per year and over half employ waterless cooling, but hyperscale or AI-heavy sites can still be water-intensive. Industry benchmarks put average WUE around 1.8 litres per kWh.

How IPS de-risks industrial water networks

1. Thermoplastics for utilities and process: ABS, PVC-U, PVC-C, PP, PVDF and PE cover cooling water, demi and RO, CIP, and chemical effluents with predictable corrosion resistance and thermal performance.
2. Containment and safety by default: Secondary containment options across sizes and materials reduce the probability and consequence of leaks in high-hazard areas.
3. Precise control and automation: Manual and actuated valves with compatible instrumentation enable reliable sequencing, purge and emergency isolation.
4. Measurement for optimisation: Flow and pressure monitoring enable water efficiency programmes, leak detection and accurate water balances that support ISO 14001 and corporate targets.
5. Constructability and speed: Lightweight plastics, solvent welding and electrofusion shorten install time, reduce craneage and eliminate hot-work permits compared with metal.

Five design levers to deliver outcomes in AMP8 and beyond

1. Material selection: Choose corrosion-proof thermoplastics matched to fluid, temperature and pressure to extend life and maintain water quality.
2. Joint integrity: Standardise jointing procedures and approvals to cut leakage and rework on site.
3. Secondary containment: Use double containment where consequence of failure is high or regulations require it.
4. Measure what matters: Instrument for commissioning and life-cycle performance. Flow, pressure and temperature data underpin leakage management and overflow reduction.
5. Standardisation and training: Build repeatable details, installation guides and toolbox talks into delivery so every crew reproduces best practice.

What good looks like in practice

• Potable: District metering and pressure optimisation, combined with leak-tight plastics and correct support spacing, help companies meet PR24 leakage commitments at lower whole-life cost.
• Wastewater: Backwater protection, right-sized lifting and separation, and robust chemical dosing in double containment reduce uncontrolled releases and pollution incidents.
• Industrial: Thermoplastic utility headers with modular valve islands and in-line metering enable fast changeovers and water balances aligned with site sustainability goals.

Why partner with IPS

• Breadth of compliant systems: From WRAS-appropriate potable lines to aggressive effluents and high-purity process streams.
• Technical depth: Application engineering, installer training and on-site guidance that shorten learning curves and lift first-time-right rates.
• Programme-grade logistics: Large UK and Ireland stocks and rapid fulfilment that keep multi-site programmes moving.
• Lifecycle support: Flow measurement, actuation and containment that make systems observable, controllable and safer over decades.

If you are delivering potable, wastewater or industrial networks in AMP8 and beyond, let’s align your design standards and project packs to the outcomes that matter: leakage, resilience, compliance and speed.

📧 sales@ipsflowsystems.com 📞 UK 0191 521 3111 📞 IRE +353 1 2573741 🔗 ipsflowsystems.com

👉 Download our IPS Handbook Sections today and see for yourself how our systems can support your next project.

References

• Ofwat PR24 final determinations, sector summary: total expenditure, leakage, smart meters, mains renewal targets.
• Ofwat leakage figures 2023–24; Scotland and Northern Ireland comparison.
• DEFRA/Environment Agency water resources performance 2023–24: household PCC trend; non-household consumption.
• Environment Agency EDM storm overflow data 2023 and 2024.
• National Audit Office 2025: investment needs and 2050 shortfall.
• techUK 2025 survey on data centre water use; WUE benchmarks around 1.8 L/kWh.