Safeguarding water treatment assets with structural monitoring

Felindre WTW, South Wales

Felindre Water Treatment Works, South Wales

Project Overview

Location	Felindre WTW, South Wales
Sector	Water
Products	Monitoring

Felindre Water Treatment Works in South Wales is one of the largest plants in the country, producing water for up to 600,000 customers in Swansea, Carmarthenshire, Bridgend and West Cardiff.

During groundworks excavations on site, a range of our structural and environmental monitoring equipment were used to ensure the structural safety of existing infrastructure & buildings.

The challenge

As part of maintenance and upgrade works at Felindre Water Treatment Works, a bypass pipeline had to be constructed to enable chlorine contact tanks to be isolated. To facilitate the works, a trench was excavated, measuring seven metres at its deepest point and located in close proximity to an existing water retaining structure. As a result, there were concerns that the building may experience cracking or subsidence due to structural movement or vibrations from plant equipment.

With this in mind, Young Bros Civil Engineering, who were contracted to deliver the groundworks, required a structural monitoring solution.

Challenging Site Conditions

During maintenance works at Felindre Water Treatment Works, a deep bypass pipeline trench was excavated close to an existing water-retaining structure. This raised concerns about potential cracking or subsidence caused by ground movement or plant vibrations.

Structural Monitoring Solution

To manage these risks, Young Bros Civil Engineering required continuous structural monitoring. An automated total station was installed to track movement, with live data sent to the Insite web portal for real-time visibility and alerts.

Vibration Control and Safety

A portable vibration monitor was also supplied for flexible use around site. The lightweight, IP67-rated unit provides audible and visual alerts, ensuring vibration levels remain within safe limits throughout the works.

Our solution

Due to the need to monitor the critical infrastructure for structural movement throughout the works, we supplied our automated total station. Once installed on site, live data was transmitted to our Insite web portal, where the customer could easily monitor the structural stability of the building and be alerted should any movement be detected.

We also supplied our Portable Vibration Monitor, which could be easily moved around site for use when required. A lightweight unit, housed in an IP67 rated case, it features both audible and visual alert beacons to warn of any vibration level breaches.

Learn more about structural monitoring

Mabey Hire portable vibration monitor in case

Get in touch

“The vibration monitoring equipment was required due to the works being undertaken near critical infrastructure at the water treatment works. Mabey Hire’s monitoring solutions gave us the confidence and assurance that our works were not affecting the existing structures on site, enabling us to continue safely. At Young Bros, we’ve engaged the services of Mabey Hire previously and knew that their service could be relied on.”

Jordan Jones,

Framework Commercial Manager, Young Bros Civil Engineering Ltd,