Carbon emission estimates were included for the first time in TR61 Version 10 - the cost estimation software for water and wastewater treatment facilities and infrastructure, released in October 2010. Embodied and operational carbon models have been developed for the software using approaches consistent with those recommended by UKWIR.
The development of TR61 V10, which was supported by most of the UK water utilities, allows water utility investment plans to be put together and estimates to be made in terms of capital, operating and whole life costs and carbon emissions. David Sivil, WRc project manager for TR61 said that, “A survey of the contributing water utilities found that they value TR61 as an important tool for asset evaluations, benchmarking company costs and filling gaps in cost information.”
WRc is now developing TR61 Version 11, which will be completed by October 2012, in time for water utilities to use it for the next periodic review. The project will ensure that the cost and carbon models are kept up to date.
Further information available from David Sivil at david.sivil@wrcplc.co.uk or telephone +44 (0)1793 865134.