At one of the UK’s water pumping stations, persistent water ingress was beginning to pose a real risk to day-to-day operations. While the issue was largely hidden from view, the impact could have been very visible for customers. Any damage to electrical equipment could increase the likelihood of service disruption for the communities that rely on a safe, reliable water supply.
Project summary
| Organisation | UK Water Company |
| Asset | Pumping station |
| Scope | Water and gastight sealing of cable ducts |
| Solution | NOFIRNO® Duct Sealing System |
| Completion | March 2024 |
Water infrastructure in the UK is vast and essential. On any given day, water companies supply around 14.7 million megalitres (14,664 Ml/d) of raw water across England, while millions of customers use on average about 150 litres of treated water per person each day. These volumes underscore the sheer scale of daily demand and the critical nature of assets like pumping stations, which must operate without interruption for safe water delivery to homes, businesses and public services.
Previous attempts to seal the cable ducts passing through the concrete structure had not delivered a lasting fix. Water continued to track through the building fabric, creating ongoing concern for both asset protection and service resilience.
What we found
A detailed site survey revealed that the cable ducting passing through the concrete structure had split along its length. This allowed water to travel unseen between the duct and the surrounding concrete. Given the volume and consistency of ingress, it was clear that a short-term repair would not provide UK Water Company with the long-term confidence it needed to protect both its assets and its customers.
Pumping stations like this form part of the lifeblood of regional water networks, moving treated water under pressure to service areas and maintain supply continuity. Failures in seemingly small elements, such as duct seals, can cascade into larger system instability, risking outages, service interruptions and compromised water quality for customers.
The solution
With decades of experience in the water management industry, CSD Technical Services worked closely with UK Water Company to deliver a solution focused on reliability and longevity. Three 150 HR frames were installed to fully encapsulate the service entry points, creating a stable interface between the ducting and the structure. The NOFIRNO® Duct Sealing System was then applied to create a continuous water and gastight barrier.
To ensure the seal performed as intended, copper relief drains were used during the 14-day curing period to manage water pressure. Once curing was complete, the drains were capped, leaving a fully sealed and protected installation.
CSD’s expertise in engineered sealing solutions ensured the works were delivered efficiently, safely and in a way that met UK Water Company’s high expectations for asset performance. The team’s experience with live water assets and complex sealing challenges meant minimal disruption to the station’s operation and confidence in the long-term effectiveness of the works.
The outcome
The completed works have removed the risk of water ingress at the pumping station, helping UK Water Company safeguard the infrastructure that underpins everyday water services.
Results
- Improved protection of critical assets that support reliable water supply
- Reduced risk of outages and unplanned maintenance
- Greater long-term confidence for UK Water Company and the customers it serves
