Southern Water is getting ready to start work on a new £2.5 million project which will deploy innovative lining technology to futureproof a stretch of Portsmouth sewer.
Work is due to get underway in the city’s Eastern Road with the aim of building resilience in the pipeline so that this summer’s burst, close to the junction with Burrfields Road, does not happen again.
The water company’s teams have been busy preparing for the major project, bringing in a huge range of specialist equipment and planning closely with Portsmouth City Council to minimise disruption to the local community.
Deploying high tech lining equipment is quicker than a normal repair, as it requires less digging. Lining material is fed through a smaller hole and down into the pipe underground, before being heated, which then forms a new seal for the sewer.
Until the project is complete, Southern Water is diverting wastewater away from the area to Court Lane Wastewater Pumping Station in Cosham, where flows of over 300 litres per second are passing through 24 tanks and 8 pumps before heading for treatment.
Alex Saunders, Director of Wastewater Operations, said:
“Responding to this summer’s burst was a major logistical effort, and we are sorry for the impact it had on road users and the local community. Our teams worked hard to minimise disruption, but after similar challenges along the pipeline in previous years, we knew that we needed to act now to find the right long-term solution – so it won’t happen again.
“We now have a plan to put it right and have been working closely with Portsmouth City Council to carry this out in the best possible way, with the minimum disruption caused.”
The bespoke liners for the pipeline, which weighs several tonnes, will be delivered in freezer trucks, because they have to stay cool to be fed into the pipe before being heated and hardening. This is also the reason why much of the lining work has to be carried out at night, so the warmth of sunlight doesn’t interfere in the process.
Paul Brooker, Director at Vortex Companies – the technology firm carrying out the project on behalf of Southern Water - explained:
“Our trenchless technology restores pipes without the need for digging. The liners are delivered in a freezer truck and are made of reinforced glass and impregnated with resin. They are installed inside the pipes and are bespoke, specifically made for each project.
“Our lining technology and services are used worldwide, offering advanced solutions to the commercial and industry sectors.”
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