Watercare has begun a $3.3 million rehabilitation project to reline more than 2km of sewer pipeline along the foreshore at Snells Beach and Algies Bay.
The rehabilitation work aims to reduce the risk of saltwater entering the wastewater network during high and spring tides.
As part of the project, 40 manholes along the pipeline will also be renewed.
Watercare senior program manager Dirk Du Plessis said the goal is to protect key infrastructure, including the Snells Beach Wastewater Treatment Plant, which is currently under construction.
“Saltwater is highly corrosive and causes deterioration of pipes, joints, valves, pumps, and treatment plants, which can lead to leaks and structural failures,” he said.
“It also disrupts the biological processes used to break down human waste before highly treated wastewater can be released back into the environment.”
Du Plessis said gravity pipelines are commonly buried within beach foreshores, between the low and high tide marks.
“Gravity mains rely on downward slopes and are installed at the lowest points in the network, making them ideal for collecting flows from surrounding coastal areas.”
Du Plessis said to maximise beach working hours, crews will undertake most of the work during low tides.
“However, when the tide is high, the crew will focus on renewing manholes above the high tide mark.
“The pipeline will be relined using a trenchless rehabilitation method called spiral wound lining.
“This method is highly effective at restoring structural integrity. It involves inserting prefabricated interlocking PVC strips into an existing pipe via a manhole.
“Once inside, a winding machine spirals the strip to match the shape of the pipeline, forming a continuous liner.
“This creates a watertight and structurally reinforced inner pipe, significantly improving the condition of the original pipeline without the need for excavation.
“We want to assure the community that access to both beaches will remain available throughout the project.”
The rehabilitation works are scheduled for completion by January 2026.
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