The UK water industry has long championed the safety of its workforce. With robust protocols and rigorous on-site procedures, protecting people on the ground is clearly a top priority. But when it comes to safeguarding the very infrastructure, those workers depend on, the vast, complex web of underground water pipelines, the same level of care isn’t always applied. This disconnect is exposing both people and assets to unnecessary risk.
As part of National Safe Digging Week, we spoke with Richard Broome, Head of Infrastructure Management & Maintenance and Managing Director at LSBUD, the UK’s leading online safe digging resource, to explore why the industry’s approach to safety remains so uneven, and what needs to change to ensure a safer, more collaborative future.
In 2024, the water sector accounted for 27% of the 3.9 million searches on LSBUD’s safe digging portal, second only to telecoms. That’s a clear sign that the industry takes safe digging seriously.
Yet, despite owning over 400,000 kilometres of underground pipes, only 20% of water companies are registered with LSBUD. That leaves up to 350,000 kilometres of critical infrastructure effectively invisible to those digging near it.
This creates a puzzling paradox: we’re protecting the people doing the digging, but not the pipes they’re digging around.
The Cost of Invisibility
When underground water assets aren’t visible to those planning excavation work, the risk of third-party strikes skyrockets. And the consequences are serious:
- Service disruption to homes, businesses, and even hospitals
- Environmental damage from leaks and contamination
- Financial and reputational fallout for the companies involved
So why the reluctance to share asset data?
Three Reasons Behind the Disconnect
- A False Sense of Security
Water pipes are often buried deeper than other utilities, making them less likely to be hit first. But this depth doesn’t make them invincible, it just delays the damage. And when it happens, the impact can be catastrophic. - Data Security Concerns
Some companies worry that sharing asset data could expose vulnerabilities. But modern portals like LSBUD give asset owners full control over who sees what, ensuring security while enabling safety. - Commercial Interests
Many water companies sell their asset data as part of broader land search services. While legitimate, this model can discourage safe digging by making access harder for those who simply want to avoid causing damage.
The case for collaboration
Safe digging works best when everyone plays their part. That means:
- Asset owners sharing their data
- Workers and contractors checking before they dig
- Technology providers like LSBUD making access fast, easy, and secure
This creates a “virtuous circle”, the more data that’s shared, the safer the digging, the fewer the incidents, and the stronger the case for even more collaboration.
Portsmouth Water: A model of best practice
Take Portsmouth Water. Before joining LSBUD in 2020, they handled asset location requests manually, a slow, resource-heavy process.
Since going digital:
- Network visibility has increased 12-fold
- Annual search volumes jumped from 2,500 to over 30,000
- Average response time dropped from 10 days to under a minute
- Third-party damage incidents fell by 25%
It’s a clear example of how sharing data doesn’t just protect assets; it boosts performance, reduces costs, and improves customer outcomes.
Looking ahead: AMP8 and beyond
As the water industry prepares for the AMP8 investment cycle, the pressure is on to deliver more, more safety, more efficiency, more resilience.
Protecting workers is non-negotiable. But protecting infrastructure must be just as high a priority. By embracing transparency, collaboration, and modern technology, the sector can close the safety gap and futureproof its operations.
In the end, it’s not just about pipes or people, it’s about protecting both.