Rising Main at Burnley WwTW

SGC installed approximately 320 m of 180 mm diameter PE100 SDR11 rising main at Burnley Wastewater Treatment Works, working for Advance Plus on behalf of United Utilities.

The route ran through a congested, operational part of the works, with numerous existing services and several other contractors on site at the same time. Our scope included:

• Excavation through existing hardstanding and installation of the pipeline at an average depth of 1.5 m
• Butt-fusion welding of the pipeline
• 2.1 m diameter washout chambers, with valves and mechanical fittings
• Rodding points
• Type II pressure testing to IGN 4-01-03, carried out by SGC
• Reinstatement of the existing hardstanding

The original route ran close to many live services. Before work began, we proposed an alternative route that avoided a number of them, removing the risk of excavating near live services. The pipeline also had to be tested to 24 bar, and the client wanted to avoid electrofusion joints. The revised route allowed most of the pipeline to be butt-fusion welded, in line with the client's preferred jointing method.

With several contractors working in the same area, we developed a programme with Advance Plus that let us work efficiently while keeping access open for everyone else.

The rising main passed its Type II pressure test, and the works were delivered on time and within budget.