Harnessing Innovation for Safety Excellence

Abstract

This project involved undertaking a condition assessment of the existing trunk Sewer Rising Main located between Eagle Farm Pump Station and Luggage Point Sewerage Treatment Plant in Brisbane. These inspections using electromagnetic technology have previously been conducted by draining and cleaning the pipe, and using a human propelled tricycle to move the tool through the pipeline. Extensive cleaning of the pipes is required prior to the inspection due to sediment build-up at the low points. Cleaning is performed by hand, and visual assessments required meaning extensive periods of confined space work. An alternative approach was sought with the solution being an unmanned Electromagnetic scanning device. This involves the Electromagnetic scanning device being inserted into the sewer and carried by the flow in the network, therefore eliminating the need for confined space entry. Our team worked with Xylem who own the technology to conduct the assessment. The vendor mobilised their team and equipment to Australia and the project was able to be successfully completed with no confined space entry as planned. The benefits of this alternative methodology included: • no dangerous confined space entry required • no need to drain nor clean the rising main • over $1m cost saving compared to previous methods • significant reduction on time to completion This project was a great demonstration of how trenchless technologies are evolving and allowing safer access to our assets without putting our people or assets in harm’s way. Urbane Utilties (UU) is the Central SEQ Distribution-Retailer Authority of the Queensland Government responsible for the delivery of retail water supply and waterwater services across five local government areas. We deliver drinking water, recycled water and sewerage services to more than 1.4 million people in South East Queensland and are the fourth largestwater distributre-retailer in Australia. This means that Urban Utilities owns and operates assets in the Brisbane, Ipswich, Lockyer Valler, Scenic Rim and Somerset local government areas, may of which are of a more mature age and condition. This project was to investigate the condition of the more critical assets, the Eagle Farm Pump station to Luggage Point Resource Recovery Centre (RRC) rising main. This is one of the most critical assets within the Urban Utilities portfolio as it carries 65% of Brisbane’s sewage to be treated at our largest RRC. 1 No-Dig Down Under 2023 Harnessing Innovation for Safety Excellence Andrew Nicholson, Gavin Bowen Figure 1. DN1295 Sewer Rising Main Alignment Traditionally this pipeline would be inspected using a manned vehicle or scanner approach as well as the visual inspections by manned entry. This process requires the whole pipe be double isolated, the line drained and then cleaned before any worker would enter under a confined space permit and begin the inspection, likely requiring multipe entries at numerous maintenance hole entry points, requiring relocation safe access equipment to each location to ensure the safety of the workers is managed effectively. Manned entry also created additional risks associated with motorized equipment in a restricted and permanently ventilated environment. The section being inspected is approximately 5km long. The spacing of the manholes being approximately 180m meant moving access tripods and equipment 25-30 times for each stage, once for cleaning and then again for the inspection after cleaning was completed, a total of 50-60 times. Due to our growing population and pressure on our asset base it is getting harder and harder to facilitate low flow periods during the year to isolate the system to complete a traditional condition assessment on this pipe, meaning more innovative options were needing to be sought. 2 No-Dig Down Under 2023 Harnessing Innovation for Safety Excellence Andrew Nicholson, Gavin Bowen