HDD, Markets, Spiral wound, Tunnelling, Wastewater

Sewer lining project wins innovation award

Each year the Australian Water Association (AWA) presents its Infrastructure Innovation Award to showcase “significant and innovative infrastructure projects and initiatives within the water industry.”

In March 2014, the AWA presented the NSW Branch Award to Interflow for the Rehabilitation of Sections of the Lidcombe, Auburn Granville (LAG) Sewer Mains Project. The project is now the NSW nomination for the National Award.

This is the second major award for this project. Previously, it received the International Society for Trenchless Technology’s Project of the Year Award against competition from around the world.

The project

The rehabilitation project was one of the most complex and challenging pipeline rehabilitation projects carried out in Sydney Water’s history. This project was to line some 1.2 km of deteriorated 900 mm diameter reinforced concrete pipeline.

The challenges included:

  • The sewer was up to 22 m deep with long lengths between access points
  • It carried high flows and its importance meant that it had to remain in full service at all times during the works
  • Difficult location crossing under a major arterial road with major gas pipelines running alongside
  • The work method had to allow for the possibility of full return to service of the pipeline in less than 3 hours.

Innovation

Interflow completed this project using its Expanda Pipe and Rotaloc spiral wound liners, but needed to incorporate new developments to extend their capabilities. These included:

  • A stiffer Expanda liner
  • A more powerful winding machine
  • Robotics to aid installation
  • Profile strip for lining around bends
  • A new grout formulation.

Completing the project while maintaining full sewer service required the construction of a complex bypassing system. This included a large pump-out pit, needed because of the 22 m depth of the pipeline.

The project demonstrated the effectiveness of a teamwork approach between a client and contractor.

Send this to a friend