Interflow Awards
Investigation over the past few years has shown that defective sewer house connection branches caused by root infestation or broken pipes, can be a significant source of blockages in a Water Authority’s sewers. These deficiencies also increase infiltration rates. The restoration of house connection branches, as well as the restoration of sewer pipelines, is often necessary if blockage and infiltration reduction targets are to be met.
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Yarra Valley Water, Melbourne’s largest retail water company is taking positive action. Unlike many other Australian Water Authorities, Yarra Valley Water actually owns house connection branches from the inspection opening located near the property boundary to the sewer reticulation pipeline.
Interflow Pty Ltd, who has provided sewer rehabilitation services to Yarra Valley Water for over a decade, will be restoring some 400 house connection branches over the next year.
The need for restoration of house connection branches is identified from Yarra Valley Water’s historical records of repeat blockages. Mostly these are 100mm diameter vitrified clay pipe and can be located anywhere in Yarra Valley Water’s extensive area which covers over 4,000 square kilometres across Melbourne’s northern and eastern suburbs providing sewerage services to more than 1,500,000 people.
Restoration can involve either dig-and-replace or lining with Interflow’s epoxy cured-in-place DrainPlus liner. Typically dig-and-replace is used on short and shallow lengths – up to 2 metres long. For longer lengths, or for deep lines, installing the DrainPlus liner is more economical.
Most of the house connection branches are from 1.5 to 3.5 metres deep, although depths up to 6 metres have been encountered.
Tony Kelly, Yarra Valley Water’s Managing Director commented that “We are pleased that Interflow will be bringing their expertise to this important project to assist us in improving the sewerage infrastructure for our local communities.”
Yarra Valley Water’s lining program enables efficient and far less disruptive repairs of sewer house connection branches and has substantially improved Yarra Valley Water’s relationship with those customers experiencing unwelcome repeat sewer blockages.
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