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Thames Water has set out plans to expand its trunk mains testing site to the wider sector.
Through an innovation project to prevent mains bursts, the company launched a test facility to evaluate pipeline surveying devices.
The company said its £1.2 million pipe rig has helped improve the efficiency of its network investment programme by identifying upgrades to prioritise.
Once the initial trials are complete, Thames will open the testing facility to other water companies to develop and trial other trunk mains technologies.
Thames said the test site gave teams a better understanding of the condition of cast iron trunk mains and allowed them to test in-pipe innovation in a safe environment.
Caroline Sheridan, Thames engineering and asset director, said: “Reducing leaks and bursts is one of our most important priorities as we turnaround our business but also one of our biggest challenges, with nearly half of the pipes in London more than 100-years-old.”
She added the rig, named after Jeff Farrow, the engineer who developed it, will inform resilience plans by shining a light on pipe conditions and protect the network against bursts.
Andy Flowerday, director of Barhale, which built the rig, described it as the first of its kind. He said: “It will have significant impacts in terms of extending the life and resilience of existing infrastructure assets and in the reduction of disruption and inconvenience to customers.
“We are also pleased that the very first technology trial produced some extremely promising results, vindicating both its concept and operational deployment.”
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