Pipe replacement and rehabilitation

Water pipe replacement and rehabilitation include trenchless pipe technology and technology to analyse a pipe from the inside, such as cable cameras or robots.

Pipe rehabilitation is that aspect of trenchless rehabilitation that undertakes the repair or replacement of sewer and water pipelines. These pipes tend to run under a city or town, connecting homes, offices and industries to the municipal sewer network or water connection. Trenchless technology enables repair and replacement with little to no digging required.

Pipe rehabilitation can usually be carried out from maintenance holes. There are different methods for trenchless rehabilitation of pipes that are cost-effective, quick, reliable, and long-lasting. Trenchless methods are becoming popular because they are non-disruptive and eco-friendly.

Pipe rehabilitation methods include slip lining, cured-in-place pipe (CIPP), thermoformed pipe, mechanical spot repair and pipe bursting. The favoured method of pipe rehabilitation is CIPP. CIPP uses a resin-soaked liner that is inverted and inserted into the affected pipeline after the pipeline is cleaned and inspected. The liner is expanded using compressed air or steam and allowed to fill the pipe once placed within the pipe. Heat accelerates the curing process in the liner.

Another commonly used trenchless method is pipe bursting. This process sees a pipe with a smaller diameter than the host pipe inserted behind a bursting head. The bursting head has a slightly larger diameter than the host pipe. It bursts the pipe and pushes the broken pieces into the surrounding soil as it rotates through the host pipe. It also pulls the new pipe behind it and replaces the damaged pipe. Mechanical spot repairs are used for strengthening small areas of damaged pipes that do not need to be replaced.