Trenchless methods of asbestos cement water pipes replacement

During the presentation, a case of a water and sewage company will be analyzed. The company more and more often uses the trenchless methods of pipeline renovation. The unfavourable age (over 64% of the pipelines is older than 25 years) and material (almost 20 km of the pipelines is made of asbestos cement) structure forces the company to prepare a long-term strategy of waterworks renovation without the need to plan for 2 or three years.  The additional challenge is asbestos removal programme – until 2032 PWiK has to replace 1,3 km of the pipes a year. The possibility of the trenchless replacement of the conduits should be utilised to the maximum. A significant weight of using the trenchless methods is carried by the satisfaction of the land owners – the administration and particular individuals. The not too elaborated scope of the works and the and the speed of conducting them has a great effect on the company’s image.

dr inż. Florian Piechurski, Silesian University of Technology