Yorkshire trials spray lining to prevent leaks

Yorkshire Water has begun a pipe-lining programme to address structural and water quality issues by spray lining 14km of piping in the coming year.

Programme partner Morrison Water Services said the scheme, which it claimed to be the first of its kind in the UK, will reduce costs and embedded carbon emissions by up to 60% each compared to excavating and replacing pipes as well as minimising disruption to customers.

The inner surface of the pipes will be cleaned and then centrifugally sprayed with a layer of resin, sealing cracks and small holes that can seep water and preventing leaks from forming in pipework that may have lost integrity over time. Morrison said the lining will add 50 years to the lifespan of the pipes.

Chris Raper, head of programme delivery for Morrison’s contract with Yorkshire, said: “In the demanding environment of AMP7, the continued asset health deterioration from an ageing network of clean and wastewater infrastructure pipelines, there is an urgent need for an alternative to traditional pipeline replacement.”

Nathan Sunderland, Yorkshire’s asset planning manager, added: “Having lining as an alternative to mains renewal will contribute towards hitting some challenging performance commitments, as well as achieving our financial and carbon targets. We look forward to using this technique for the remainder of AMP7 and beyond.”

As part of the trial, Morrison will carry out an analysis of the environmental and cost benefits of this technique to prevent corrosion and leakage.

Earlier this summer, the company began working with Morrison Water Services and Hydraulic Analysis to roll out leakage and digital twin technology at 20 hotspots as part of Yorkshire’s efforts to halve leakage by 2050.

Asset health will feature in the upcoming Utility Week Forum hosted this November in London, to find out more and see the full line-up click here.