Case Study: Live Leak Contaminated Water Pipe Repair at a Wastewater Treatment Works

Case Study Data

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Site
Wastewater treatment works
Location
Sussex, UK
Repair Type
Live leak pipe repair
Defect
Highly pressurised leak on a 450mm steel contaminated water pipe

Products Used

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Wrap & Seal Pipe Burst Tape
Multiple Wrap & Seal Pipe Burst Tapes were used to increase the pressure resistance of the repair

SylWrap HD Pipe Repair Bandage
SylWrap HD was wrapped and smoothed around the pipe to provide a protective layer over the initial repair

SylWrap Universal Pipe Repair Kit
Both Wrap & Seal and SylWrap HD are available as part of the Universal Pipe Repair Kit

SylWrap Pipe Repair Contractor Case
The site was recommended to stock a Contractor Case to enable instant response to future leaks and bursts

Case Study PDF

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Case Study Review

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The contractors working at the wastewater treatment works in the United Kingdom mistakenly believed the pipe in question had been decommissioned and was due for removal.

In actual fact, it was one of the most important live pipes on site, linked to all the waste treatment ponds. As a result, there was no feasible way to stop the flow once the pipe had been breached.

From the moment the pipe was damaged, the severity of the cuts inflicted to such a highly pressurised pipe resulted in a significant amount of contaminated water escaping.

A rapid, live leak repair to the wastewater pipe was therefore required to prevent a catastrophic situation from occurring.

The contractor contacted Sylmasta for urgent assistance. Luckily, the site was located less than one hour from Sylmasta HQ, so our technical team were able to rush all the products needed and offer assistance throughout the repair.

Several Wrap & Seal Pipe Burst Tape were first applied to the pipe. Wrap & Seal is a waterproof self-amalgamating repair rape which fuses to form a solid rubber band over the hole or crack, sealing the leak.

The 450mm diameter of the pipe combined with the high pressure meant that multiple tapes were needed to hold the leak.

This initial repair was then overwrapped using a SylWrap HD Pipe Repair Bandage. SylWrap HD is a composite repair wrap with a water-activated resin.

It was wrapped and smoothed around the pipe, setting rock hard in 30 minutes to provide an impact resistant layer over the Wrap & Seal to protect the repair from further damage.

Within an hour of Sylmasta being on site, the contaminated water pipe had been permanently repaired at a cost of less than £300 to the contractor.

This included additional SylWrap HD should there be any further mishaps or any existing pipes require strengthening or reinforcing during the construction works.

Had a live leak repair not been possible, the wastewater treatment works would have needed to shut down the entire site to isolate the damaged pipe whilst a replacement was sourced and fitted. The cost of such a procedure would have been astronomical.

The speed of the SylWrap repair also prevented a serious environmental incident from unfolding. This could have been damaging in monetary terms through the cost of a clean-up operation and possible fines, and for the reputations of both the wastewater treatment works and the contractor involved.

Understandably, the project manager was extremely happy with the speed and ease with which the contaminated water pipe had been repaired. They emailed Sylmasta a few days after the repair, saying: “Thank you so much, the pipe repair worked a treat.”

Sylmasta have since recommended that the wastewater treatment works takes stock of a SylWrap Pipe Repair Contractor Case. The Case contains enough equipment to carry out up to six live leak pipe repairs.

By keeping one on site, the wastewater treatment works will have everything they need to fix any future leaks as soon as a problem arises.