Thames Water has signed an agreement with Oracle to consolidate 23 asset databases into a single system.

The utility wants to improve customer service, the planning of engineering works and its response to government regulations by providing 2,500 users with access to the integrated asset management system.

Engineers and business managers will be able to view information about all assets – including pipes, drains, meters and valves – across Thames Water’s 5,000 square mile supply area when the system goes live in spring 2007.

Asset information held in the Oracle spatial database will be viewable via an electronic Ordnance Survey map, making it easier for decision makers to see where resources are located.

Geographical information systems from IT provider ESRI will also allow Thames Water to analyse its water network and will provide engineers with details about each asset before repair works are carried out.

‘Thames Water is undertaking a programme to replace leaking Victorian water mains,’ said John Connelly, Thames Water’s divisional chief information officer.

‘But we can’t just shutdown parts of the water network and not look at the consequences.

‘This system will allow us to model what impact there will be, what happens with the water flows and which customers will be affected,’ he said.

The Oracle 10g database will also give the utility a better idea of how its water network is performing, improve capital planning, make operational reporting more accurate and allow it to analyse asset lifecycles.

‘We have identified a number of core end-to-end business processes and feel if we can better control them and their information, then we will move a long way towards achieving operational excellence,’ said Connelly.

By consolidating all data, Thames Water says it will be able to more efficiently report to water regulator Ofwat and the Environment Agency.

‘They are very focused and concerned about the utilities industry’s ability to provide accurate information,’ said Connelly.

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