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Steel fabricator boosted by new water regs

30 Nov 16 A steel fabricator is expecting a surge in orders for manhole covers as new regulations on the ownership of private water pumping stations come into force.

FSP managing director Richard Hilton
FSP managing director Richard Hilton

Fabweld Steel Products (FSP) has developed a new access cover just as utility companies are adopting thousands of drainage systems previously in private ownership.

Fabweld has spent more than a year at its Telford headquarters working on its Fab Secure Access Cover – a specifically designed manhole cover for the systems that pump waste water into the sewer network.

Under new Water Industry (Schemes for Adoption of Private Sewers) Regulations, water companies were given until 1st October 2016 to take on responsibility for any pumping station that serves two or more properties, or lies outside a property boundary and links to the public sewer.

Utility companies have been tracing and surveying the private facilities, but many will still be implementing the changes and upgrading pumping stations after the October deadline, according to FSP managing director Richard Hilton.

“These private drainage systems consist of pumps located inside large manholes, known as wet wells, with a purpose of pumping waste water into the nearest sewer network,” he said.

“The pumps are protected via a manhole cover and depending on the location of the wet well, they could easily be exposed to vandals or other attack that could seriously compromise the public sewer network.

“Utility companies will be looking for a safe and practical solution that will allow them easy access yet provide a high level of security and our new Fab Secure Access Cover provides that,” he added.

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MPU
MPU

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