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Strategic report
OCU Group | Annual report and financial statements 2025
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An example of how we are realising the market opportunities OCU Water
Capital Delivery Pressurised Pipeline Framework Case study | Water
Wales | Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water
Framework project overview OCU Group has been a strategic delivery partner to Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water (DCWW) since 2012, as part of the Capital Delivery Pressurised Pipeline Framework. This long-term framework enables a wide range of pressurised – predominantly clean water – pipeline projects across the DCWW region, supporting vital public infrastructure with innovative engineering, responsive service, and reliable delivery.
Challenge DCWW required a delivery partner capable of managing complex and varied works across its pressurised pipe network. The challenge lay in delivering these projects reliably across both urban and rural environments, often under time‑sensitive or emergency conditions, and always with minimal disruption to communities and the environment. Key challenges included responding rapidly to emergency incidents, navigating difficult terrain and protected environmental sites, delivering works with minimal service interruption, and managing multiple concurrent projects across geographically dispersed regions.
Solution OCU was appointed to the framework in 2012 and has since embedded teams across Wales to deliver high‑quality, responsive works. This covers mains, rehabilitation works, emergency and planned new trunk main installations, major HDD crossings under areas such as rivers and railways, and developer services including contestable and non-contestable works. We also provide 24/7 reactive main repairs predominantly involving trunk mains and complex works. To support delivery, OCU maintains six operational bases, three in South Wales and three in North Wales – ensuring consistent, responsive coverage. Peak deployment has reached circa 300 personnel, including specialist supply chain partners.
Outcome Over the lifetime of the framework, OCU has played a key role in securing clean water supply for millions of people across Wales. This has been accomplished through a robust, trusted partnership that continues to deliver value to DCWW and the communities it serves. OCU’s ongoing work under the framework demonstrates the value of long-term collaboration, engineering excellence, and an unrelenting focus on customer and environmental outcomes.
• 30,000m of mains replaced by horizontal directional drilling methods in a typical busy year • Longest HDD of over 850m under the Dee River estuary with twin 335mm OD pipes • 39,000 customers plus two hospitals prevented from losing water by our reactive trunk main solution • Peak workforce on the contract around 300 , including specialist supply chain • Six office and yard locations to service framework Key facts
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