Southern Water has completed an £18 million sewer upgrade in Thanet, Kent, UK that will help reduce the risk of flooding in the area.
With some sewers beneath the streets in the Isle of Thanet now more than 100 years old, the utility company felt it was time for upgrades to secure a future of safe and sustainable sewerage.
Relining and sealing pipes were some of the main methods, with works starting back in May 2022.
Since then, 112km of sewers were re-mapped with CCTV, and it was identified that about 20km of it needed upgrading.
Sewer sealing involves inserting specially manufactured high strength sock into an existing pipe. It is then inflated and cured in place with UV light, creating a strong, seamless lining.
Southern Water Project Manager Gus Winterbottom said a range of technology was utilised to ensure they had a strong idea of the project.
“We’ve used mining experts to access ageing chalk tunnels because they’re so deep underground. We’ve also accessed the tunnels through manholes and used state-of-the-art CCTV surveys,” he said.
“The project surveyed and fixed the sewer network across Margate, Birchington, Westbrook, and Cliftonville and this work will help prevent flooding and help the environment.”
The crew also surveyed 500 manhole covers, replaced multiple manhole covers while internally relining 218 sewers, and excavating and repairing 38 sewers.
More than 65,000 customer letters were sent out to households and businesses alerting them of minor disruptions, but the use of trenchless methods kept it to a minimum.
Do you have news for the international trenchless industry? Contact Journalist Gerald Lynch at gerald.lynch@primecreative.com.au
