19/08/2026
🚧 Laying the foundations for smarter, more resilient wastewater networks 🚧
We are to have completed a comprehensive programme of UMON6 surveys across sites throughout Northumbrian Water's operational area, from Bamburgh to North Yorkshire, for our client Northumbrian Water. As one of three contractors appointed to the programme, we were responsible for surveying 50 sites.
Before any physical works could begin, our team carried out detailed investigations to build a complete understanding of the existing infrastructure, assets and operational arrangements at each location. This critical early-stage work will help inform future network improvements and support UMON6 regulatory requirements.
The surveys covered a wide range of MEICA assets, including:
✅ Control panels and telemetry systems
✅ Remote monitoring equipment
✅ Pipework and flow meters
✅ Rising mains and air valves
✅ Cable routing arrangements
A key focus of the project was identifying suitable locations for the installation of Event Duration Monitoring Systems (EDMs), which help alert Northumbrian Water to potential environmental spills, enabling faster response times and improved operational awareness. We also established locations for forward flow monitors, providing valuable flow data that can be used alongside EDM alerts to help identify the cause of spill events and support informed decision-making.
In addition, the project identified the infrastructure, installation requirements and optimal locations needed to support future integration between field assets and Northumbrian Water's Digital Twin and SCADA systems. The survey findings will inform subsequent phases of the programme, enabling enhanced remote monitoring capabilities, improved visibility of network performance across remote locations and more reliable transmission of operational data.
By establishing these requirements at an early stage, the project is supporting future investment in monitoring infrastructure. Future phases of the UMON6 programme are expected to enhance network resilience, reliability and operational efficiency, contributing to the development of a more robust and future-ready network.
A huge thank you to David Oswell, Senior Project Manager, and Neville Dazley, M&E Project Manager, whose expertise and site knowledge were instrumental in the successful delivery of this geographically diverse programme.
