to a request for a CCTV survey on a failing potable water main while ensuring no interruption of supply
WRc used our Small Potable Water Crawler to identify points of leakage on a failing main while preserving water quality.
Find out about our large Potable Water Crawlerto a request for a CCTV survey on a failing potable water main while ensuring no interruption of supply
a solution to inspect a very small diameter pipe which was safe to use in a potable water environment
the client with clear footage of damage; the evidence required to action an informed solution for their client
A civil engineering and construction firm engaged WRc to provide a suitable potable water solution to obtain CCTV footage from inside a 180mm (O/D) PE Potable Water main that had failed on numerous occasions due to cracks in the invert of the pipe wall. The client needed to understand whether there were further cracks that could lead to failure and how widespread the problem was.
The pipework is located in the grounds of a university, and to avoid any interference with supply during the normal working week, this survey had to be undertaken out of hours on a weekend.
WRc's solution was the use of our Small Potable Water Crawler (AMI SP150). This crawler was chosen because it is reserved for use only in potable water environments, maintaining best practice, and can be used in pipelines with internal diameters of as little as 150mm (the internal diameter of this PE main was 155mm). It also has a range of up to 240m, which was more than enough for this survey.
WRc were able to provide a best practice solution for the provision of CCTV in a potable water pipeline. Despite the pipeline being flushed and disinfected before going back into service, the client was provided with confidence that the crawler used would not be introducing any pathogens picked up from previous work in dirty environments.
The crawler was able to fit inside an extremely small pipe and achieve a very good distance before encountering an un-reamed Butt Fusion pipe weld that decreased the main diameter to smaller than 150mm.
CCTV footage was obtained that clearly showed there were splits in the pipe wall at the invert where the pipe material had failed and that these were at regular intervals along the 51m section that was surveyed. This footage has provided the client with the evidence required to action an informed solution.