Under Pressure – Successful Rehabilitation of Potable Water Pipes in São Paulo, Brazil, with Saertex-Liner H O

Abstract

Aging potable water pipe infrastructure is a constant maintenance challenge for water authorities worldwide. Access to drinking water from a tap is taken for granted in developed countries despite supply being a tough and sensitive task. Supply became an issue in the city centre of São Paulo, Brazil during the global pandemic when a massive leak was identified in a key potable water network, built in the late 1930s. With strict hygiene regulations and access issues to consider, the local water authority and installing company worked with SAERTEX multiCom® to install SAERTEX- LINER® H O, a fiberglass reinforced pipe liner solution for the trenchless rehabilitation of potable water pipes, which 2 has worldwide approvals, including Australia and New Zealand with AS/NZS 4020:2018. In one of the busiest areas in town, 1.3km of SAERTEX-LINER® H O in various DN’s (DN 450 - DN 500) was 2 successfully installed despite various challenges due to the global pandemic affecting shipping and installation times. In the face of the hurdles, once the liners arrived in Brazil, the whole project, encompassing 14 sections of pipe was remarkably completed in four months thanks to the collaboration of the project team. The result was a new fully structural, hygienically approved pipe network that runs operating pressures between 4.5 and 9.5 bars. This reference serves as an example of the benefits of effective planning, trenchless rehabilitation, and the advantages of SAERTEX-LINER® H O 2

Techniques