Supplementary guidance for the , aAunited

selection of water pipes in land ~ Utilities

potentially affected by contamination Water for the North West

Introduction which the pipes are to be laid may be affected

by contamination. The application of the source,
In January 2011, UK Water Industry Research pathway, receptor concept will be an integral part
(UKWIR) published “Guidance for the Selection of of any pipeline risk assessment. For each potential
Water Supply Pipes to be used in Brownfield Sites” source (the contamination) and each potential
(Ref 10/WM/03/21; the ‘UKWIR Guidance’). Its aim receptor (the water pipe), consideration shall be
is to ensure that the correct materials are selected given to whether a potential pathway between
for water pipes and components to be used below source and receptor exists, or may exist in the
ground in brownfield sites to protect the quality future, linking the two. There are normally only
of drinking water whilst taking into account the three pathways by which contamination may come
service life of the water distribution system. into contact with water pipes. These are direct
It supersedes the Water Regulations Advisory contact with the soil or backfill, an excessive
Scheme (WRAS) Information and Guidance Note vapour phase or a contaminated groundwater
9-04-03 “Laying Pipes in Contaminated Land” regime. If none of these conditions exist on site
which has been withdrawn. (adopting the source, pathway, receptor concept)
The UKWIR Guidance is for use by developers, self- then it is likely that extended and/or targeted
lay organisations, water companies and consultants soil testing will not be required and a simple risk
when planning, designing and constructing water assessment will suffice. For those sites where land
mains and/or services in brownfield sites. It defines may be affected by contamination appropriate
brownfield sites as “land or premises that have testing shall be undertaken on the materials within
previously been used or developed. They may which the pipes are to be laid, whether that be
also be vacant or derelict. However, they are not existing ground materials, remediated materials
necessarily contaminated.” The UKWIR Guidance or imported capping materials. The testing
states that it does not apply to greenfield sites; requirements are as described in the following
however, we consider this supplementary guidance section.
and the relevant sections of the UKWIR guidance The signatories of the Water Supply Application
as being equally suitable for application to those Form and the RA must ensure that all assessments
greenfield sites considered to be potentially of land condition have been carried out in
affected by contamination. Where greenfield sites accordance with applicable current standards and
are not affected by contamination a preliminary risk guidelines by or under the direction of a suitably
assessment (see below) will suffice. qualified competent person.
The UKWIR Guidance also states that there We require the competent person to be a) a
should be no departure from its provisions “except chartered member of an appropriate professional
where formally approved by the Water Company, body (such as the Institution of Civil Engineers,
such departure being technically justifiable or the Geological Society of London or the Royal
representing advances in knowledge or product Institution of Chartered Surveyors) with relevant
development”. experience of investigating contaminated sites
We have adopted the UKWIR Guidance in principle or b) a Specialist in Land Condition (SiLC) with
and produced this company specific supplementary appropriate geo-environmental experience.
guidance (the ‘UUW Guidance’) which includes the
Risk Assessment for Water Pipes (the ‘RA’).
This guidance does not cover operative safety,
health exposure modelling or accidental pipe
damage.

Risk Assessment for Water Pipes How to contact us about the

in Land Potentially Affected by information in this leaflet
Contamination
Any application for new water supplies to a
development (construction of new properties, or
renovation or conversion of existing buildings) in DeveloperServicesWater@[Link]
land potentially affected by contamination shall
include a completed RA.
As a minimum a desk study (preliminary risk
assessment) shall be provided with the RA in
accordance with the framework in Environment
0345 072 6067
Agency publication “Model Procedures for
Opening hours:
the Management of Land Contamination” (ref: 8am-5pm Mon to Thurs
CLR11) that sets out whether the land through 8am-4.30pm Fri
Testing Requirements Sufficiency of Testing
The soil, rock and if appropriate groundwater tests Water pipes are normally laid at between 0.75
that are required on all sites where the potential for and 1.35m from finished ground level to crown of
organic contamination has been identified in the pipe. Samples taken and tested must represent
desk study and where water pipes are proposed both a) the soil in which the water pipes are to be
to be laid must be accredited by United Kingdom laid and b) the soil down to at least 500mm below
Accreditation Service (UKAS) as a minimum and the underside of the proposed pipe. Where the
where commercially available the Environment proposed depth of the pipes is unknown at the
Agency’s Monitoring Certification Service time of application, soil samples representative of
(MCERTS). These accredited tests should be the ground condition between surface level and
undertaken for: 1.5m below finished ground level shall be taken
Banded hydrocarbons EC5-EC10, EC10-EC16, EC16- as a minimum. Where appropriate (see UKWIR
EC40 (Total aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons Guidance) groundwater sampling and groundwater
for each banding may be summed). Aliphatic/ monitoring will also be necessary. Photo-ionisation
aromatic fractionation and subsequent banding detection (PID) monitoring along the proposed
may be required should a more detailed site route of the pipeline may be employed, though this
specific risk assessment be undertaken. The does not provide a definitive guide to the suitability
bandings have been amended to take into account of water pipe materials.
readily available laboratory tests. The equivalent Where required a sufficient number of test results
carbon number (EC) is used to assess petroleum should be obtained from the material in which the
hydrocarbon mixtures rather than the actual pipes are to be laid. CLAIRE/CIEH 2008 “Guidance
number of carbon atoms in the molecule in line on comparing soil contamination data with a critical
with guidance issued by the Environment Agency concentration” may be used, where appropriate,
(2005). to justify the number of soil samples tested;
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) (method by however, this statistical model should not be used
head space or purge & trap GCMS) with tentative on heterogeneous materials or used to average test
identification of compounds greater than 20µg/kg. results from different types of materials.
The method used should be capable of detecting a Further guidance on representative sampling is
wide range of compounds listed in US EPA Method contained within BS10175:2011 Code of Practice
8260C or similar. The method should include for the Investigation of Potentially Contaminated
analysis of naphthalene. Sites, the Department of the Environment’s
BTEX (Benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene and Contaminated Land Research Report “Sampling
xylenes) plus MTBE (Methyl-tertiary butyl ether) (by strategies for contaminated land” prepared by The
head space GCMS) Centre for Research into the Built Environment,
Nottingham Trent University (Ref: CLR 4; 1994)
Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds (SVOCs)
and the Environment Agency’s “Secondary Model
(method by GCMS) with tentative identification
Procedure for the Development of Appropriate Soil
of compounds greater than 20µg/kg The
Sampling Strategies for Land Contamination” (ref:
method used should be capable of detecting
R&D Technical Report P5-066/TR; 2000).
the compounds listed in US EPA Method 8270D
or similar. The total concentration of SVOCs Where remediation has been carried out on the
excludes polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, ethers, site, the test results obtained from validation
nitrobenzene, ketones, aldehydes, phenols, cresols samples will be used in the assessment. Where
and chlorinated phenols. Phenols, cresols and a horizontal capping system has been or will
chlorinated phenols which are detected by the be employed using materials spread across a
SVOC analysis are given their own assessment site, sufficient samples will need to be taken to
criteria. characterise the capping material used and the
results presented to UUW. However, the sufficiency
We do not consider Table G1 and Table 3.1 of
of sampling on the horizontal capping system, in
the UKWIR Guidance to be a definitive guide for
which the pipeline will be placed, may be assessed
assessing total concentrations. Table 1 in the RA
on the basis of the source, quantity and type of
below replaces Table 3.1 of the UKWIR Guidance.
materials used.
Where previous site uses include the use, storage,
treatment, disposal or manufacture of any of the
following, appropriate testing for these substances Detection Limits
will be required: Only positive concentrations, ie those above the
• Ethers, nitrobenzene, ketones, aldehydes and limit of detection should be used in summation
amines. Note that the presence of amines on of VOC and SVOC (or other test groups of
any site at the proposed pipe depth +/- 1.0m compounds ie phenols, cresols and chlorinated
precludes the use of polyethylene. The methods phenols). Laboratory methods shall provide a
of analysis and method of calculation of total minimum limit of detection of 10µg/kg for each
concentrations of these compounds will need to individual VOC or SVOC (or other test groups of
be agreed with UUW. compounds) quantitatively detected in accordance
To comply with the testing requirements, the with the methods described above. For tentatively
suites of tests that are required on all brownfield identified compounds (TICs), only those
sites where wrapped steel, wrapped ductile iron compounds with a concentration of 20µg/kg or
or copper pipes are to be laid as minimum must greater shall be used in the summation of VOC and
include: SVOC (or other test groups of compounds).
• pH, Conductivity and redox potential
Protective Measures
Where polyethylene, ductile iron, steel or copper
pipes are to be laid on a brownfield site or other
land potentially affected by contamination (whether
or not it has been remediated) and where the
concentrations exceed the generic guideline values
set out in Table 1 of the RA, the developer shall
provide either:
a) a robust risk assessment to show how any
contaminants will not significantly impact on
proposed water supplies or buried assets over
the lifetime of the assets; or
b) more suitable pipe materials; or
c) an engineering solution to protect the pipe work
backed up by an adequate assessment of the risk.
Liquid free phase product (e.g. oil or free
solvent layers) shall not remain in the ground or
groundwater in the vicinity of water pipes, whether
barrier pipe or any other pipe materials are used.
When designing pipe routes on land potentially
affected by contamination, new preferential
contamination pathways along the route of
new water pipes shall not be created. Particular
measures may be required to prevent the possible
migration of contamination through pipe bedding
and into controlled waters.

References
BS10175: 2011
“Investigation of Potentially Contaminated Sites
Code of Practice”
CLAIRE/CIEH
“Guidance on comparing soil contamination data
with a critical concentration” 2008
Department of the Environment Contaminated
Land Research Report
“Sampling strategies for contaminated land”
prepared by The Centre for Research into the Built
Environment, Nottingham Trent University (Ref:
CLR 4) 1994
Environment Agency
“Secondary Model Procedure for the Development
of Appropriate Soil Sampling Strategies for Land
Contamination”
(ref: R&D Technical Report P5-066/TR) 2000
Environment Agency
“Model Procedures for the Management of Land
Contamination” (ref: CLR11), 2004
Environment Agency P5-080/TR3
“The UK Approach for Evaluating Human Health
Risks from Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Soils”, 2005
UK Water Industry Research (UKWIR)
“Guidance for the Selection of Water Supply Pipes
to be used in Brownfield Sites” (Ref 10/WM/03/21)
January 2011
Water Regulations Advisory Scheme (WRAS)
Information and Guidance Note 9-04-03
“Laying Pipes in Contaminated Land” 2002
Frequently asked questions
Why has UUW published supplementary choice of pipe material has been made on Pipes and supporting Site Assessment
guidance to the ‘UKWIR Guidance for the the basis of the information provided. Report (SAR) which is provided with any
Selection of Water Pipes to be used in new water supply application (ie. it has
Brownfield Sites’? What do we do if the pipe route is not been provided in the correct format,
UUW agrees with the UKWIR Guidance known when the Site Investigation report proposals for pipe selection are included,
in principle; we have published is commissioned? the methodology is in line with the UKWIR
supplementary guidance to clarify some of Guidance and UUW Supplementary
Where the route of the pipe is not known
the areas in which it will operate. Guidance, it has been directed by a
at the site investigation stage, then any
suitably qualified competent person etc.).
resultant pipe selection needs to take
If UUW do need to provide assistance or
Does the UKWIR Guidance only apply to account of any contamination found on
information in deciding pipe materials
‘brownfield sites’? the site. Consideration should be given
then the assessment would be carried out
Yes, the UKWIR Guidance does apply to identifying the route and depth of the
under the direction of a suitably qualified
to brownfield sites; in addition United pipeline at the site investigation stage to
competent person.
Utilities Water will apply this guidance avoid unnecessary testing.
and the UUW supplementary guidance to
What happens to existing PE that is in the
any greenfield sites which are potentially Is it acceptable not to undertake a site
ground under the “old” guidelines?
affected by contamination. investigation and specify the use of
barrier pipe which seems to be suitable The latest UKWIR guidance and UUW’s
for all conditions? supplementary guidance are intended to
Who is responsible for completing/
be used to decide what pipe materials will
signing the Risk Assessment for Water Not all brownfield land is contaminated,
be used for new water mains and services.
Pipes (RA)? and because of that a default to barrier
It will have no effect for developers with
This may be the Developer, the Developers pipe is not an acceptable approach to
regard to any parts of UUW’s existing
representative, or the competent person UUW, due to the possibility of higher
network.
directing the land assessment. The installation and future maintenance
signatory of the Risk Assessment for costs. The approach as to whether a site
investigation is needed should be risk Will the Developer be required to submit
Water Pipes (RA) must ensure that all
based. For those sites where land may be a fully completed Risk Assessment for
land assessments have been carried out
affected by contamination appropriate Water Pipes (RA) and supporting Site
in accordance with current standards
testing shall be undertaken on the ground Assessment Report (SAR), including pipe
and guidelines by or under the direction
materials within which the pipes are to material recommendation, for both the
of a suitably qualified competent person.
be laid, whether that be existing ground option of a mains requisition application
For water supply applications on land
materials, remediated materials or and the option of a self-lay application?
potentially affected by contamination,
UUW requires the competent person imported capping materials. Yes, UUW expect the ‘Developer’, as
to be either a chartered member of an defined in UUW Supplementary Guidance,
Examples where defaulting to barrier pipe to submit a Risk Assessment for Water
appropriate professional body (such as
would not be acceptable: Pipes (RA) and supporting Site Assessment
the Institution of Civil Engineers, the
Geological Society of London or the • Where a capping layer (non- Report (SAR), including pipe material
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) contaminated) is introduced within recommendation, in respect of any water
with relevant experience of investigating which the pipes will be installed. pipes being installed on the development
contaminated sites or a Specialist in Land irrespective of who is to install them.
• Sites with a potential low risk for
Condition (SiLC). This level of competency
contamination.
is intended to promote good practice Does Table 1 in UUW’s Risk Assessment
and high professional standards and is no • Where liquid free phase product (e.g. oil for Water Pipes (RA) replace any of
greater than that required for planning or free solvent layers) is in the ground the tables to be completed in the Site
purposes by Local Authorities. or groundwater in the vicinity of water Assessment Report (SAR) as required in
pipes. the UKWIR Guidance?
Do we need to agree the number and • Where the route of the pipe could be UUW does not consider Table G1 and
location of soil samples with the Water diverted to another suitable location free Table 3.1 of the UKWIR Guidance to be
Company as indicated by the UKWIR from contamination. a definitive guide for assessing total
guidance following the Preliminary Risk concentrations. Table 1 in UUW’s RA
Assessment (PRA)? replaces Table 3.1 of the UKWIR Guidance.
Are UUW employees who will assess the
Where a preliminary risk assessment (PRA) Design Proposals for contaminated sites
highlights the need for a site investigation suitably qualified? Have any other Water Companies
UUW considers it is a responsibility of the adopted the UKWIR Guidance yet?
qualified competent person directing the It is the role of the Developer’s suitably You will need to contact the water
land assessment to determine the location qualified competent person to deal with or company concerned if you are intending to
and frequency of sampling. UUW’s role direct the assessment of land. UUW’s role install water pipes outside UUW’s licensed
would be to confirm that the appropriate is to assess the Risk Assessment for Water area.

I ~.united About us
’ water company. We keep the taps flowing and
United Utilities is the North West’s
\::, Utilities toilets flushing for seven million customers every day. From Crewe to Carlisle, we work
hard behind the scenes to help your life flow smoothly.
Water for the North West

United Utilities Water Limited, Haweswater House, Lingley Mere Business Park, Lingley Green Avenue, Warrington WA5 3LP.
Registered in England and Wales. Registered Number 2366678.

-
LRA1A-11/19v0 11/19/SD/8483f-1
Risk assessment for water pipes , aAunited
~ Utilities
(RA) Water for the North West

The risk assessment for water pipes will help you choose appropriate materials for your development. We are happy to deal with a
risk assessment for water pipes in advance of any formal application for a new water supply.
If you need any help completing the form please call us on 0345 072 6067.

Section 1: Development details

Development name (if it has one)

Development address

OS Grid reference (mid point)

Developer's name

UUW reference number

(for UU use only)

Please provide details below of the current and historical use of the site and adjacent sites.
If your supporting information has details of the current and historical site use, please reference below the relevant sections of your report.

Section 2: Preliminary risk assessment

Has your desk study and site walkover identified any land potentially affected by contamination? Yes No

If the site is potentially affected by contamination but you have not completed any intrusive site investigation please provide details below
of the rationale behind the intended pipe selection.
If your supporting information has details of the rationale behind the intended pipe selection, please reference below the relevant sections of
your report.
Section 3: Intrusive site investigation

Have you completed any intrusive site investigation?

□ Yes □ No
Have you completed any none intrusive site investigation?
□ Yes □ No
ITJITJ~I ~~
D D M M Y Y Y Y
Date(s) when the site investigation(s) undertaken D D M M Y Y Y Y
[I] IT 11:=::::::::::::::=:::::::::::::
[I]
D D M
IT M II.______.____..______.____.
Y Y Y Y

metres below ground level or

At what level has groundwater been encountered?
□ Not encountered
Table 1 (Pipeline Selection Risk Assessment Summary (PSRAS)) below classifies testing required where the preliminary risk assessment has
identified land potentially affected by contamination. Please provide details below of any test groups which have not been tested and the
rationale for not testing.
If your supporting information has details of the rationale behind not testing any particular test groups, please reference below the relevant
sections of your report.

If the intrusive site investigation has identified concentrations above the PE threshold (see PSRAS) and your intended pipe selection is PE.
Please provide details below of the rationale behind the intended pipe selection.
If your supporting information has details of the rationale behind the intended pipe selection, please reference below the relevant sections of
your report.

Section 4: Site remediation

Please provide details below of any site remediation (which may include a change in site levels) already completed.
If your supporting information has details of the site remediation already completed, please reference below the relevant sections of your
report.

Has the PSRAS (Table 1) been completed using appropriate data after remediation?
□ Yes □ No □ N/A
Please provide details below of any proposed site remediation and an analysis of whether this will affect your intended pipe selection.
If your supporting information has details of any proposed site remediation and whether this will affect your intended pipe selection, please
reference below the relevant sections of your report.
 Section 5: Final use of site
Please provide details below of any chemicals (including fuel) to be stored on site and any other future contamination risks which may
affect your intended pipe selection.
If your supporting information has details of potential contamination risks which may affect your intended pipe selection, please reference
below the relevant sections of your report.

What water pipe materials are

intended to be used on site?
□ PE □ PE Barrier Pipe Type A □
✔ PE Barrier Pipe Type B
Other (please specify): x

Section 6: Additional information

Please use the section below to provide any additional details to support your intended pipe selection.

Section 7: Risk assessor

Name and relevant qualifications of person directing the risk

assessment for water pipes x

x
Name and address of risk assessor’s company

Date risk assessment performed D

x D
x M
x M
x xY Y
x Y
x Y
d

Section 8: Declaration
I confirm I have completed this form and provided supporting information in accordance with ‘UKWIR Guidance for the Selection of Water
Supply Pipes to be used in Brownfield Sites’ and UUW’s Supplementary Guidance. I also confirm that if any further site investigation is needed
and carried out, I will be required to submit an additional Risk Assessment for Water Pipes with the relevant supporting information.
I understand that failure to supply any of the required information may delay my application being processed.

Name x Company x

Telephone x Date
rnrn ..........
D D M M 1 Y ,.._____._____,__.
Y Y Y

Please email the completed form and supporting information to DeveloperServicesWater@[Link] or post to us at
United Utilities Water, Developer Services, Second floor Grasmere House, Lingley Mere, Warrington WA5 3LP.

I ~.united About us
’ water company. We keep the taps flowing and
United Utilities is the North West’s
\::, Utilities toilets flushing for seven million customers every day. From Crewe to Carlisle, we work
hard behind the scenes to help your life flow smoothly.
Water for the North West

United Utilities Water Limited, Haweswater House, Lingley Mere Business Park, Lingley Green Avenue, Warrington WA5 3LP.
Registered in England and Wales. Registered Number 2366678.

LRA1A-11/19v0
- 11/19/SD/8483f-2
 Table 1 - Pipe selection risk assessment summary (PSRAS)
1. Testing must be undertaken on the materials within which the pipes are to be laid, whether that be existing ground materials, remediated materials or imported capping materials. Please use the
appropriate testing data to complete Table 1 below.

2. If more than one pipe selection is being made, for example, for pipes in different areas of a large site, a completed PSRAS is required for each selection.

□
What materials have been tested to populate Table 1 below? Existing ground materials Remediated materials Imported capping materials

All concentrations in mg/kg

Maximum Maximum site Locations and depths where
Testing PE Metal Pipes/ Laboratory Testing UKAS concentration at concentration
Test Group concentrations exceed proposed
Required? threshold Barrier Pipe Detection Limit accredited Y/N proposed pipeline
See Note [3] pipeline threshold
depth See Note [2]

Total VOCs 0.5 Pass

Total BTEX & MTBE Where Preliminary Risk Assessment

(PRA) has identified land potentially
0.1 Pass

Total SVOCs (excluding PAHs and those affected by contamination

2 Pass
substances marked with an *)
EC5-EC10 aliphatic and aromatic
2 Pass
hydrocarbons
EC10-EC16 aliphatic and aromatic
10 Pass
hydrocarbons
EC16-EC40 aliphatic and aromatic
500 Pass
hydrocarbons

Phenols* (from SVOC analysis) 2 Pass

Cresols and chlorinated phenols* (from

2 Pass
SVOC analysis)

Ethers* 0.5 Pass

Only where identified

Nitrobenzene* 0.5 Pass

Ketones* 0.5 Pass

Aldehydes* 0.5 Pass

Amines Fail Pass

Conductivity,
Corrosive Pass See Note [1]
Redox and pH

Note [1] Threshold: For wrapped steel, corrosive if pH<7 and conductivity > 400µS/cm. For wrapped ductile iron corrosive if pH<5, Eh not neutral and conductivity > 400µS/cm. For copper, corrosive
if pH<5 or >8 and Eh positive.
Note [2] Water pipes are normally laid at 0.75-1.35m below finished ground level.
Note [3] Also state if liquid free product is present in soil or groundwater.