Southern Water has become the first UK water company to use a special gel which fixes leaking sewer pipes without the need to dig holes.
TuboGel is now being used to seal pipes in villages west of Andover following previous successful trials in Alfriston and Firle in Sussex.
The product is made up of two separate liquids which when poured into a pipe together, harden when they combine, solidifying to make an enduring stone seal around the leak.
It is being used specifically to seal private pipes, which can be a major source of leaks that infiltrate and overwhelm sewers, leading to storm releases.
The technology is being trialled as part of Southern Water’s Clean Rivers and Seas Task Force pathfinder project in the pan parishes in northern Hampshire, which is one of the pathfinders that focus on reducing or slowing the amount of surface water which enters sewers during a storm.
Pathfinder Lead, Keith Herbert said:
“More than 40% of the sewerage network is private and can be in poor condition. It is great to be able to help customers without causing the disruption associated with digging holes and closing roads. Although it is early days in trialling TuboGel we are encouraged with what we’re seeing and the potential benefits this can bring us for tackling unpleasant sewage leaks.”
TuboGel is frequently used in Germany and other European countries – the technique is used for foul sewers only, and not for water mains.
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