Reducing clean water pollution with real-time risk mitigation

Whilst wastewater pollutants have been a significant focus across AMP cycles for water companies, it would seem focus is now shifting towards clean water too. Some may think the risk from clean water to the environment is limited, but infrastructure failures, such as burst mains or leaks, can cause treated water to spill into the environment, leading to erosion, flooding, and contamination when it interacts with pollutants from surrounding areas. These pollution events not only harm ecosystems but also leave water companies vulnerable to severe penalties and reputational damage.

Regulatory bodies, including the Environmental Agency (EA) and Ofwat, have implemented stricter measures to hold clean water providers accountable. Utilities now face heightened scrutiny, with financial penalties for category 1 and 2 pollution events often in the millions. For example, in 2023, four different water companies were fined a total of more than £6.7 million for serious pollution incidents. With the removal of caps on penalties for these events, the risk of higher fines for serious breaches continues to climb. 

This mounting regulatory pressure is compelling utilities to rethink their approach to clean water pollution management. We’re seeing that water companies do not currently have the right tools and technology in place to manage the risk of clean water pollutions effectively, with a need to better educate teams to spot and manage the associated risks.

At FYLD, we recognise the complexity of these challenges. Our platform is designed to help water companies proactively mitigate pollution risks, stay compliant with regulations, and improve overall operational efficiency.

What’s driving the change across clean water networks? 

• Regulatory oversight: Agencies like the EA and OFWAT have intensified their inspections,  With the number of inspections by teams increasing from ~900 per year, to over 10,000. 

• Financial penalties: The financial burden of failing to prevent pollution incidents is significant. For example, Category 2 events can result in penalties running into millions, and non-compliance with environmental permits can lead to even higher fines.

• Environmental impact: Beyond regulatory consequences, pollution incidents have lasting impacts on ecosystems. They erode public confidence in utilities, further amplifying the need for swift and decisive action.

How FYLD enhances water pollution management with real-time risk mitigation

FYLD’s platform streamlines clean water pollution management by providing real-time visibility and AI-driven insights, empowering managers to identify and mitigate risks before they escalate. By equipping frontline workers with AI-powered Video Risk Assessments (VRAs), FYLD ensures that teams can address potential pollution hazards and mitigate risks in real time. By integrating these features, FYLD helps utilities stay compliant with clean water pollution regulations, avoid costly fines, and ensure smooth operations while minimising environmental risks.

Here’s how FYLD makes a difference:

• AI-powered risk identification: FYLD’s AI assesses critical environmental risks, and potential pollution impacts, during site operations. It prompts workers to capture comprehensive site data through video, ensuring that risks are identified and addressed before work begins.

• Real-time reporting & escalation: When pollution risks are identified, FYLD enables immediate escalation to management and environmental teams. The platform ensures that all relevant data is captured and shared in real time, allowing teams to quickly implement mitigation actions. This prevents delays in addressing pollution incidents, reducing the likelihood of escalations and the risk of regulatory penalties.

• Structured workflows for risk mitigation: FYLD guides field teams through a structured process to identify and mitigate environmental risks. Workers are prompted to consider environmental impacts before starting repairs, ensuring that potential pollution risks—such as discharges into watercourses—are addressed before they become incidents.

• Improved communication and coordination: By providing a centralised view of all field operations, FYLD ensures that teams and contractors are working with accurate, up-to-date information. This improves collaboration, prevents miscommunication, and ensures a faster response to environmental hazards, reducing the risk of pollution events caused by incomplete or outdated data.

• FYLD ShowMe: Beyond internal operations, utilities can leverage FYLD ShowMe to further enhance their response to pollution-related incidents. This tool enables utility customers or end-users to provide real-time visual evidence of water-related issues, such as leaks or pollution, allowing utilities to respond more quickly and resolve issues efficiently. By incorporating customer input into their pollution management process, utilities can boost operational efficiency while also improving customer satisfaction.

FYLD in action

FYLD’s effectiveness in pollution management is evident in its collaboration with Southern Water:

• A 37% reduction in overall pollution impact over the past 12 months, demonstrating FYLD’s ability to significantly improve environmental outcomes.

• Over 73,000 AI-powered site assessments, automating accurate and efficient report generation through natural language processing and smart workflows that guide field teams.

• More than 110,000 remote interventions, enabling rapid responses to potential pollution incidents and reducing environmental risks.

Take control of water pollution management

Clean water pollution is a growing challenge, but with the right tools and technology, it can be managed effectively. FYLD’s platform offers water utilities a proactive approach to pollution management, streamlining compliance with regulations, mitigating environmental risks, and improving overall operational efficiency.

If you’re ready to take your pollution management strategy to the next level, get in touch with FYLD today. Our AI-powered platform is already transforming the way water companies handle environmental risks, and we can help you too.