Keeping your

water flowing

Information for customers about water mains improvement works

Contents
Introduction When a water main needs replacing Stage 1. Laying the main Open dig Pipe Bursting Directional Drilling Sliplining Stage 2. Transferring property supply pipes Stage 3. Reinstating the surface Keeping your water clear 1. Cleaning the main 2. Lining 3. Restoring the supply Further information 8 8 8 10 4 4 5 5 6 7 7 3

Introduction
From time to time, water mains have to be renovated. They may deteriorate internally, discolouring the water. They may become encrusted and narrow, causing reduced flow. They may even burst. And, as they wear out, water is lost through leakage. This all adds to our costs and causes disruption for customers. Keeping leakage to a minimum is one of our key aims. We have one of the lowest rates of water loss in the country. Much of this has been due to our customers reporting suspected leaks. However, our continued programme of regular maintenance helps to prevent leaks before they become a problem. In some areas, iron deposits and corrosion occur inside the mains. These deposits are harmless, but they can discolour the water. In these circumstances, we rehabilitate the mains, removing the deposits and keeping your water clear. The process we use to do this is known as scrape and line; scraping the deposits from the side of the mains and then installing a new clean lining. Maintenance and replacement work can cause disruption to customers supplies. This leaflet explains how we carry out this essential work, while at the same time doing all we can to minimise the inconvenience to customers. If you have any concerns, or would like further information, please contact our Customer Services Department on 01737 772000.

When a water main needs replacing

To install a new main, we have to go through three stages: 1. Laying the main 2. Transferring property supply pipes 3. Reinstating the surface.

than 100 meters of pipe a day, four or five times the normal rate of the conventional open-dig method. However, the narrow trencher has its limitations in more urban areas as we need to be careful of other services.

Stage 1 Laying the main Open dig

Specialist contractors, working on our behalf, use one of four techniques open dig, pipe bursting, directional drilling or sleeving.

Pipe Bursting

This is the conventional way in which water mains have been installed for many years. Trenches are normally excavated by mechanical digger, but some careful digging by hand is often necessary to avoid damage to other services, such as gas and electricity. The Companys contractors also operate a narrow trenching machine with which they can lay more

This is mainly used for laying pipes of a small diameter over short distances under a road, for example, where existing services permit and to keep traffic disruption to a minimum. Two pits are dug, one to launch the mole and the other to receive it. The force to burst the pipe is provided by a pneumatically powered mole which is guided along the line of the original pipeline by a cable from a constant tension winch. The fragments of broken pipe are compressed into the surrounding soil by a spreader located behind the mole. A polyethylene pipe is pulled into the newly formed bore directly behind the spreader. Finally, the new pipe is then connected up to the existing main.

Directional Drilling

Again, like pipe bursting this is a technique which minimizes traffic disruption by using a trenchless method of installation. It can only be used following a detailed survey to ensure that we will not damage other utilities.
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Two pits are dug, one to launch the drilling head and the other to receive it. The movement of the boring head through the soil is achieved using high pressure drilling fluid, which passes through jets in the drilling head cutting away and breaking down the spoil ahead of the advancing drill pipe. Once it has reached the reception pit the drilling head is removed and replaced with a plate. The drill pipes are then recovered at the drilling rig unit with the polyethylene pipe being pulled simultaneously directly behind the plate, into the newly formed bore. Finally the new pipe is connected up to the existing main.

Stage 2 Transferring property supply pipes

In order to transfer properties from the old main to the new one, a narrow trench is dug (in practice a mole is used wherever possible) and a new pipe is laid from the new main to the existing stopcock, usually just inside the boundary of the property. A new stopcock, which will allow the water supply to your property to be turned on and off when required, will normally be sited outside the boundary and the original stopcock will be removed. Any areas disturbed within the boundary of the property are fully reinstated.

Sliplining

This technique is a specialist activity for extending the life of our larger strategic mains. A new plastic main which is a slightly smaller diameter than the existing pipe is either pulled or pushed into the main. We can do this over a length of up to 400 metres at a time. The only excavations we need to do in this case are at either end of the length of new pipe.

Whichever method is used, laying the new main is the major part of the work. It then has to be sterilised and pressure-tested, and the water quality has to be checked, before any properties can be connected to it. The trench can then be filled in and the surface temporarily restored to reduce inconvenience to road-users until the work is completed.
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Stage 3 Reinstating the surface

Once all properties have been connected to the new main, the surface of the trench and any other disturbed areas are permanently resurfaced and reinstated.

Keeping your water clear

Discoloured water is unappealing, so preventing discolouration, or dealing with it when it has already happened, is an important task for us. The following describes the process we undertake to achieve this.

3. Restoring the supply

We then disinfect the pipes, and, before they are refilled with water, use a tiny closed-circuit remote-control TV camera to check the new lining. This is the same camera that is initially used to identify sections of main that need to be scraped and lined. During these procedures, your normal water supply may be cut off for up to 12 hours. We know this is inconvenient, but on occasions it is unavoidable if we are to ensure that you get a regular supply of good quality, clear water.

1. Cleaning the main

We dig a series of holes at about 120 metre intervals exposing the mains. We then insert rotating brushes, which are pushed forward to scrape off the deposits of iron that have built up. The deposits are then flushed out and collected.

Lining the pipes

Cleaning the main

Checking the lining

Whilst we aim to cause the minimum disruption to traffic flow, some roads may need to be controlled by temporary traffic lights.
Removing the deposits

2. Lining

After the mains have been cleaned, they are then lined with a water-resistant, rapid-setting polymer lining. This returns pipes to a new condition and protects them from further corrosion. A special machine sprays a one millimetre thick coat of the polymer lining, which is then left to dry for about two hours.
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Further information

If mains replacement or maintenance work is scheduled to take place in your area, and will affect you, we will tell you in advance when work will start and how you will be affected. If, however, you would like further information, you can contact our customer services department on 01737 772000.

Sutton and East Surrey Water London Road Redhill Surrey RH1 1LJ Telephone: 01737 772000 www.waterplc.com
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Other information in our series of booklets: Why saving water makes good business sense Its precious... dont waste it How we help you to detect and repair leaks Having a water meter fitted

Any questions?
If you would like further information, please contact: Customer Services Sutton and East Surrey Water London Road Redhill RH1 1LJ Telephone: 01737 772000

Office hours: Monday-Thursday 8.30am-5.00pm Friday 8.30am-4.30pm Supply emergencies 24hrs www.waterplc.com