High-tech rehabilitation may add 50 years to sewer lines

Sewer line upgrades across 42 suburbs

Sewer mains in 45 Central Coast suburbs have been rehabilitated this financial year using an innovative technology that extends the life of the infrastructure by up 50 years.

Central Coast Council’s Director Water and Sewer, Jamie Loader said the maintenance program has improved reliability, lowered the risk of environmental discharges and ensured the region is well positioned to cater for future population growth.

“We have an ongoing maintenance program for our extensive 2,649km sewer network and our focus is on rehabilitating damaged sewer pipelines or replacing end-of-design-life equipment,” Loader said.

“We’re using an innovative technique to rehabilitate damaged sewer pipelines with structural re-lining, rather than replacing the infrastructure, and we start by clearing the pipe and assessing the conditions of sewer lines via CCTV camera.

“If required, we insert a liner that reinforces the existing pipe structure, sealing any leaks and significantly reduces the risk of future damage – particularly from tree roots, the number one cause of sewer blocks and overflows.

“This technique also eliminates the need to excavate in most cases, which minimises disruption to the community and reduces repair costs.”

Mayor Lisa Matthews said significant investment in critical infrastructure now will ease the pressure on the network from a growing population while also enhancing the liveability for residents.

“The Central Coast region is a fantastic place to live and it is essential we plan for the future to ensure we have adequate and sustainable infrastructure to meet expected demand,” Cr Matthews said.

“Council actively monitors and tests the effectiveness of our sewer mains network across the Coast and these results indicate areas due for maintenance.”

Residents experiencing any water or sewer concerns can contact Council on 1300 463 954.

Source:
Media release, Jun 17
Central Coast Council