Carrying the baton for no dig technology with Bristol Water

Our appointment as strategic partner on the Bristol Water AMP7 network maintenance service contract delivers in excess of 10km of new potable water main a year to communities in and around Bristol. We successfully deliver over 80% of this via no dig & trenchless technology.

Urban locations pose a challenge with restricted space and fast-moving environments. Our trenchless capability reduces cost and disruption within our towns and cities via quicker install and reduced impact on the local community and environment. Combined with our first-time reinstatement approach, we provide a proactive, thorough and class leading service.

Our specialist people assess and advise on network modelling scenarios in determining specifications and installation techniques, complimented by our modern fleet of innovative trenchless technology equipment.

Using historic and existing assets in conjunction with on-line trenchless technologies, we minimise cost, increase efficiency and enhance the reputation of our long-term partnerships.

A recent success of the mains renewal programme is Southfield Avenue in Bristol. The scheme consisted of 450m requiring renewal, using 90mm ‘Protectaline’ pipe.

Our specialist team, working in collaboration with the Bristol Water design team, successfully designed the project maximising the use of no dig technology.

The scheme culminated in a no dig success rate of 94%, via horizontal directional drilling, pipe bursting, moling and the use of the ‘Kobus Pipe Puller’. Combined with the use of a vacuum excavator, the team successfully navigated around 35 gas services, 2 gas mains, 11 telecom crossings and 12 LV cables. A showcase of how innovative technologies can be combined in one harmonious set of technological solutions.

Innovation has been at the heart of our sector leading trenchless success, introducing and demonstrating new technology and ways of working to the sector, the ‘Kobus Pipe Puller’ has been instrumental to Southfield Avenue due to the proximity of existing services in a congested urban environment.

Designed with a small footprint, the pipe puller can be positioned easily in small excavations, even with very congested utilities, and doesn’t require a large clear flat area at the base of the excavation.

Kobus supplies a specially designed pulling cable which comes complete with integral ferrule and expander.  The ferrule allows attachment to the new pipe so it can be towed in behind the old pipe.  The expander opens the bore hole behind the old pipe.  The cable is ready to use without the need for any fiddly assembly on site.

The 360 degree rotatable foot section allows the excavator to be positioned anywhere on the side of the pit to give optimum access.  The rotation of the foot in any direction enables the Puller to be quickly positioned and adjusted without repositioning the excavator for optimum efficiency in operation.

The main benefits of using the pipe puller are:

Reduced risk of utility strike

Reducing risk of damaging existing services during installation.  It easily replaced old water service pipes with new PE pipe in a single operation.  The Pipe Puller extracts the old pipe from the ground, and tows in the new pipe through the same bore hole created by the old pipe being removed.

Increased customer experience

Improving customer satisfaction is integral to our joint values, All street works cause a level of customer disruption, however decreased excavations, quieter operation and quicker installation resulted in a less disruptive operation within the local community.

Lower cost & time

Quicker install, reduced plant and material requirement resulted in a lower cost and a reduced construction programme.

Replacing and renewing our water infrastructure will always contain an element of disruption, however our collaborative aim is to reduce this disruption wherever possible, increasing our successes of leaving a positive legacy in the communities that we work in.

Employing innovative technologies, challenging the status quo and collaborating with our stakeholders are key to us remaining ahead of the game, being the go-to people for water infrastructure renewal.

“This project is testament to the hard work and dedication of our specialist directly employed renovation teams, working together to go the extra mile and being a source of positivity in the local community. Another no dig renovation project successfully delivered with Bristol Water on our mains renewal framework”.

Dean Morgan, Renovations Construction Manager, envolve infrastructure.