South East Water, one of the three Melbourne Water retailers, conducts ongoing detailed investigations into asset failures to quickly identify which assets require urgent replacement or renewal. As a result of their most recent investigations several key assets were given top priority and listed for urgent attention.

Compact Pipe was decided upon as the preferred solution to renew these pipelines based on several criteria:

• Value for money;

• Least disruption to customers;

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• Least disruption and effect on the environment;

• Least disruption to traffic; and,

• Timeframe required to complete works.

Five rising mains and two water mains have been successfully renewed using Compact Pipe in the South East Water area, and all have returned a more cost efficient solution than conventional estimates. Table 1 outlines each installation.

Each of the water main renewals involved reconnection of existing services and cross- connections. All rising main renewals were completed using eductors to maintain the flows normally handled by the pumping stations. Mains varied in depth from 1 metre to 9 metres.

The most recent renewal completed using Compact Pipe was the 300 mm Wise Avenue sewerage rising main (550 metres) in Seaford, Victoria. The aerial image gives a good indication of the area and the works to be undertaken over the eleven day period. Sections of the existing main ran under the Frankston Freeway and through an easement at the rear of five residential properties.

Compact Pipe is a close-fit system applicable for rehabilitating various types of pipelines including water mains, gas mains, industrial lines and sewers with new PE pipe inside.

The system has now been in use for more than 13 years globally, in circumstances where minimal access possibilities and bendy tracks are an issue. The suitability of using Compact Pipe in heavily developed and busy areas like those encountered in Melbourne, has been clearly demonstrated.

Quality assurance of installed Compact Pipe is possible using international standards, particularly the standards published by the European standardisation body CEN, which will soon also be published by ISO.

Rehabilitation of pressure pipelines by means of renovation/lining is now considered a real alternative to open cut replacement. The quality of a new installation is assured and lining with Compact Pipe combines ease of installation with optimal performance afterwards.