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'Securing' drinking water transmission line
For GW Leidingtechniek, the scope of the project involved both disconnecting the existing concrete transmission line and extending the steel HDD well beyond the access road.

'Securing' drinking water transmission line

Waterschap Hunze en Aa's is improving the quay, banks and flood defenses of the Afwateringskanaal van Duurswold. A new access road is also being constructed, right over a substantial concrete drinking water transport pipeline (DN700) from Water Company Groningen. To prevent this pipeline from collapsing under the preload of the new access road, the help of GW Leidingtechniek BV was called in. 

The drinking water pipeline network of Water Company Groningen crosses the Afwateringskanaal van Duurswold at Tjuchem at two locations. "For a long time, the water company relied exclusively on the concrete drinking water transport pipeline with a culvert. However, with an eye to the future, a few years ago a bypass was created (HDD drilling) under the canal through steel," says Harm van Ganzenwinkel, director of GW Leidingtechniek. "Both transmission lines were in normal use until recently, but with the work on the drainage canal and especially the construction of the new access road, this changed. Because of the poor soil on site, in the middle of the former gas extraction area of Slochteren, it was necessary to apply pre-loading to the ground level. Under that weight, the old concrete pipe could collapse." Sufficient reason for the water company to intervene.

GW Piping Technology office warehouse Photo Dave van Hout Fotogr
Harm van Ganzenwinkel, managing director of GW Leidingtechniek.

Construction Steel pipe DN 700 mm

For GW Leidingtechniek, the scope of the project involved both disconnecting the existing concrete transmission line and extending the steel HDD well beyond the access road. "All that had to be done in a very short time frame of five weeks, also in the middle of the summer vacations, and across plots of land belonging to different owners. So good environmental agreements were a must. But you can leave that to us, as we have repeatedly proven," Van Ganzenwinkel emphasizes. "So we held the kitchen table talks ourselves, explained what we were going to do and in this way fully involved the surrounding area in the plans. Then, in the execution, we started disconnecting the steel pipeline so that we could extend the existing bore about 100 meters on either side. Steel pipes were unloaded for this purpose, driven out and laid ready in the field next to the trench to be dug. The tubes were then welded together. The welded joints were checked by X-ray and lubricated internally. Externally, the joint was packed with a PE coating. After installing the pumping unit, the trench was excavated, pipes were lifted in, and several pit welds were made, checked, smeared and packed. Then the pipe was pressurized to 8 bar. After the pressure and strength test, the pipeline was approved for use. After jacking, the pipe was flushed (purged) and samples were taken continuously until the target quality was reached. We call this moment the bacteriological yielding of the pipeline."

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The welded joints were checked by X-ray and internally lubricated. Externally, the joint was wrapped with a PE coating.

GRP insulation coupling

After bacteriological delivery, GW Leidingtechniek had a maximum of 48 hours to install the new pipe on the north and south sides on the concrete transport water pipeline. "In the process, a shut-off group was also integrated on both sides with sluice gates and the ability to shut off the pipe if necessary," Van Ganzenwinkel adds. "All in all, quite an intervention, but it went entirely according to plan. The connection between the new steel pipeline and the concrete transport water pipeline was made via a GRP insulation coupling with fittings in cast iron (manholes and spout points). Once "connected," the concrete pipe under the Drainage Canal could be taken out of service. We then removed the concrete pipe on the north side up to the culvert, including the old valve group. On the south side, the old concrete pipe in the weir was disconnected from the culvert, partially removed and dredged."

GW Leidingtechniek delivered the project on time, despite postponing work due to the hot weather in the summer. "Such a project under time pressure, with many stakeholders and a completion in the middle of the hot summer vacations shows what we are capable of as a company. Another great reference and a satisfied client," Van Ganzenwinkel concludes.     

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