No one enjoys a plumbing emergency, certainly not one that requires express plumbing services – not even Sydney Water. That is why Sydney Water is working, in collaboration with university researchers, on an effective method of pipe inspection.
Urban Water Pipe Inspection
The cost to inspect urban water pipes is high. That is why there is not a comprehensive, effectively prioritised schedule of pipe inspections. The lack of a sound inspection system means Sydney suburbs experience burst pipes of varying severity on a regular basis.
The Critical Pipes Project
The age and condition of Sydney’s water pipes warrants investment in inspection technology. The Critical Pipes project, or the Advanced Condition Assessment and Pipe Failure Prediction Project, as it is more correctly known, represents a $16 million investment in research to enable us to pre-empt breaks in underground pipes.
The research is a joint project between researchers at three universities: UTS, Monash and Newcastle. Advanced techniques are being trialled to assess the condition of pipes in the water network that are located underground, with the objective to pre-empt and fix breaks before they happen.
Critical Pipes will hopefully remove the current guesswork from our water system maintenance by providing an effective means of modelling and conducting the crucial inspection step.
Critical Pipes Sensors and Technology
The tools used by the Critical Pipes researchers, include electromagnetic and acoustic sensors.
The process being trialled is to submerge a sensor which travels through the pipe collecting data as it moves. The sensor uses electromagnetic or acoustic signals to allow an estimation of pipe thickness and detect other potential defects.
If that data exposes possible defects in a small section of pipe, external sensors are applied to gather data on the thickness of the pipe wall and record any other defects.
This technology is being trialled on a section of underground pipe in Sydney’s Inner West, near Strathfield.
Stresses on the Pipe Network
While UTS researchers are analysing the data generated from the pipe inspection tools, researchers at Monash and Newcastle are looking more at the cause and effect data to understand the stresses on the system.
At Monash University the research is primarily focused on the factors that cause stresses on the pipes. This research focuses on pipe materials and locations within the system.
In Newcastle, they are looking specifically at the deterioration rates of pipes to determine how and why corrosion and leaching occurs.
The Critical Pipes project therefore is not only gathering information on more cost effective means of efficiently inspecting the underground pipe network but also the factors that can determine where and when pipes should be inspected as a priority.
Sydney Water Commitment
Sydney Water has committed $5 million to the project, along with access to the pipe network at Strathfield. It is vital to the water utility that they understand inspection modelling. No water utility wants to disrupt the water network and people’s lives, or have to undertake emergency fixes to burst water pipes – and the resulting express plumbing calls from residents and businesses.
Sydney Water also understands that it is cheaper to replace pipes before they burst than undertake emergency repairs afterwards.
The Lesson for Householders
The Critical Pipes project includes some important lessons for householders. Fixing burst pipes can be expensive and cause great inconvenience. They are also more likely to occur as pipes age and suffer corrosion and damage.
“If you are in an older home, with older water and sewage pipes, it is worth investing in the services of a plumber to inspect your pipe network and check for leaks and other damage” says Cameron Baker from our team here at JEDI Plumbing.
“When pipes burst, or you experience a plumbing emergency, you have to call on express plumbing services. Emergency plumbing, like all emergency services, has higher costs associated with it” he continues.
Whilst the costs of emergency plumbing around the home are nothing like the costs incurred in a Sydney Water emergency, it is still best for householders to build a relationship with their local plumber to implement a maintenance schedule that leaves them best placed to avoid express plumbing expenses.
If you are in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, JEDI Plumbing operates a friendly and efficient emergency plumbing service. Call us on 0411 774 381.