When rainwater or groundwater enters a sewer network uninvited, a small leak can quickly waterfall into an environmental disaster and, according to this expert, prevention is always the best solution.
Water is a powerful force. It will find its way into the smallest crack and seep into the finest fissure, inevitably growing the size of the crack through physical and chemical actions.
As the gap grows, the flow of water will continue to increase, accelerating this deterioration. When the crack is large enough, the water flow will start carrying increasingly larger particles through the gap, not only increasing the erosion but removing the critical embedment material that supports pipes, culverts, maintenance holes and pump stations.
As this embedment material is lost, ISC Services Owner, Dennis Bentink, explained that pipes and other structures can move and settle, which further increases the size of the defect and the risk of directly damaging these valuable assets due to loss of support for loads and excessive pressure and forces on joints and connections.
Mr Bentink said that the continued loss of soil and material supporting pipes can cause surface assets including footpaths, roads and railway structures to become undermined with the potential for serious damage to the both the surface assets and the underground structures.
“The issue with water getting into the network is that when the water moves it generally takes soil with it, which will disrupt the support around pipes and maintenance holes and pump stations – and you can even get roads collapsing.”
Not only do these leaks and soil movement risk damage to the surface structures and the pipes themselves, the soil that is transported through the cracks is often deposited inside the pipes and culverts, reducing their designed capacity and resulting in flow restrictions and contributing to blockages.
It is not uncommon for tree roots to find their way in at these points and compound the damage and potential for blockages.
Mr Bentink explained that additional water takes up capacity in the network, but the big problem is the soil getting into the network
“Now the pump stations aren’t just pumping too much water – they’re also pumping soil and sand and grit. This increases both wear and tear and power consumption,” he said.
Over time, if nothing is done to stop water, soil and root ingress at these points, assets will eventually completely fail.
According to Mr Bentink, while the initial phase of the leak formation may be subtle, the progress only accelerates over time and once formed, leaks only get worse.
“The cost of unresolved leaks grows exponentially the more you have, and the longer you wait before addressing them,” he said.
“Leaks can increase costs either directly through asset damage and equipment wear, or indirectly through increased operation and maintenance costs all the way downstream including pump stations and treatment plants.”
Mr Bentink said that prevention is always the best approach, and ISC Services has sourced a range of solutions to prevent the formation of leaks and to stop leaks of different sizes, types and locations in pipes, culverts, pits, shafts and pump stations.
“HydraTite Internal Joint Seals are a perfect example of a solution to arrest surface damage caused by failing pipes and culverts,” he said.
“HydraTite is a heavy duty, trenchlessly installed, mechanical seal, which can address failing joints in pipes and culverts as well as extensive cracks and leaks in large diameter pipes, box sections and shafts for stormwater, irrigation, sewer and potable water applications.”
Mr Bentink said that it’s absolutely vital that asset owners use a solution that is meets the unique needs of their network, so HydraTite Internal Joint Seals are custom made to size and shape to extend the working life of pipes, culverts and tunnels of any size or shape with the largest ever installed in a 7300mm diameter tunnel.
ISC Services works closely with asset owners and designers to develop the most suitable combination of seals and retaining bands to suit a wide range of industries.
“I start off by looking at what the problem is and work back from there,” Mr Bentink said.
“I look at ISC Services as being a giant toolbox with a range of different tools to help councils, water authorities and contractors select the right tool for the job of stopping inflow and infiltration.” U
