SWABBING
Installing new mains pipes is often dirty work. Generally, you first dig a deep trench to lay the pipe in. This trench often fills with water and becomes rather muddy. You fight this mud to install the pipe backfill partly with sand and then cover the pipe with warning tape before filling the trench back up and re-instating the cover. It may be possible to mole the pipe into the ground by using specialist equipment to tunnel through the ground whilst dragging the pipe behind it.
All these processes and the general condition of most construction sites means that inevitably there will be debris, mud, dirt and possibly other things entering the pipe. Chlorination and flushing alone will NOT remove these things and this can leave you with issues in terms of failed samples and or issues with blocked valves etc in the future.
Imagine you install a main into a building and do a lovely job boxing in the pipe with the valve head showing, cupboards are then installed around this area. If a stone has been left in the pipe this will migrate up the pipe, block the valve, and stop, or greatly reduce, the water flow into the building. An expensive rip-out process begins to find and correct the problem.
It is imperative that ALL new mains pipes, irrespective of size, are swabbed to remove any debris and dirt that has entered the pipe before connection to ensure a trouble-free connection.
Our technicians have removed the following items from new mains pipework:
Woodpeckers, rats, mice, blue roll, wood shavings, metal fragments, paint, mud, stones & gravel, other swabs, pipe swarf, to name a few.
PRESSURE TESTING
With increased pressure to reduce leaks Water Authorities are demanding more and more pipes are pressure tested prior to connection. All adoptable mains require a fully certificated, data-logged hydrostatic pressure test and an increasing number short new mains service connections are also requiring full pressure test certificates.
Water Hygiene Solutions Ltd can provide pressure testing of both PE pipe and DI pipe of any diameter and any chainage/length. For PE pipes we utilise the Type 2 test as described in the WIS 04-01-3 with full data logging at 5 second intervals for increased accuracy. For DI pipe we utilise the water added method with fully data-logged flow and pressure as required by the majority of Water Authorities.
We provide hydro-static pressure tests from 10-15 bar to meet any particular Water Authorities requirements and pipes are initially swabbed to remove air to ensure pressure rise times are reduced and safety is maximised. As our Engineers carry a wide range of pressure pumps we can quickly and efficiently raise pipe pressure to minimise test time and obtain a fast indication of a pass or fail irrespective of pipe size and pipe size.
Full analysis of the data with a pass or fail certificate is provided. Where a pipe fails we will work with you to pinpoint the issue and locate the leak for repair. As we specialise in only water hygiene and not pipe repair there is no conflict on interest.
CHLORINATION
You might think that new pipe work is clean and can go straight into service once given a flush. However, this is far from the case.
Pipe has been stored in all manner of conditions and insects and vermin both like tubes. In entering the pipes they can bring bacteria with them such as E. coli which can be extremely harmful. Drinking water standards have a zero tolerance for E. coli so bacteria such as these must be removed once the work is completed.
Pipes are also handled by people and whilst hands may be clean they do still carry bacteria which can transfer to the pipes.
The British Standards state that all new installations (except where there is single-family occupancy), should be correctly flushed and disinfected. This should be performed in a certain way and certification provided with certain details to prove efficacy and therefore legislative compliance of this process.
Water Hygiene Solutions Ltd can provide full chlorination and certification of all types of new installation from single tea points to large multi-floor office blocks and hotels etc.
With our specialist in bespoke chlorination equipment and a can-do attitude we can ensure that no matter what the challenges our engineers can overcome them to provide chlorination of the whole system whilst protecting the existing supply.
All our operatives are fully trained and hold the EUSR National Water Hygiene card giving confidence when they are working on mains supplies that they will not contaminate them.
We provide detailed chlorination certificates at the time of the work with photographs and can provide microbiology certificates from a UKAS certified laboratory to prove the cleanliness of the water system where required.