The new Specialist Jetting Team at Yorkshire Water responds to, investigates and resolves sewer network pollution incidents throughout Yorkshire, and is said to be the first of its kind for any utility company in the UK.
The fleet, consisting of a dedicated team of 22 staff and 14 vehicles, was established by Yorkshire Water following a re-evaluation of its capability to respond to escalations in flooding and pollution and to cope with the destructive effects of unique flooding events.
On each of the four new trucks, the Isuzu 7.5 tonne Forward N75.150 Urban chassis is fitted to the Rioned body that features a high-performance vacuum pump. The suction hose connects to a 3,000 litre tank for immediate operation, and the hydraulically-operated hose reel pivots 180° for ease of operation and includes 100m of high-pressure hose. The unit also features power inverters, CCTV cameras, and additional storage with heaters for dryers, as well as ample storage for hoses.
The Yorkshire Water vehicle fleet was developed as a result of a joint project between Morrison Utility Services, a contractor partner to Yorkshire Water, and Dutch specialist manufacturer Rioned. Both companies have previously partnered together on the supply of jetting equipment for numerous other wastewater contracts.
Jeremy Harrison, director, plant and fleet services at Morrison Utility Services, said: “The feedback we had about the quality and reliability of the Rioned jetting equipment on an Isuzu chassis has been very good, and the subsequent specification that we developed allows for the combination units to remain on site for longer periods. The Isuzu Rioned combi unit is fitted with a feature that allows the wastewater tank partition to also be used for clean water, meaning much longer running time.”
According to Mark Cox, sales manager at Rioned: “The Isuzu 7.5t Rioned Flexcom truck is ideal for rapid response incidents. It is a lot lighter and more manoeuvrable than bigger vehicles and therefore much more efficient. It is also a single resolution unit that can be operated remotely by one person.”