Rehabilitation work: Extending the lives of drinking water and sewer lines

Last updated October 4, 2021
Reading time: 1 min
Related to

When drinking water or sewer lines arrive at the end of their lives, work is done to repair them and extend their useful life for 50 more years. In 2021, 25 km of drinking water lines and 55 km of sewer lines were renovated.

How is this repair work done?

Pipe lining is the technique used to repair old and damaged drinking water and sewer lines. The work is done quickly. The stages are as follows:

  1. The line is cleaned and prepared by passing through existing access points such as sewer drains and utility holes.
  2. The sleeve, which is usually made of polyester, is launched into the line using air or water under pressure so that the sleeve will adhere perfectly to the walls.
  3. The sleeve is then warmed and hardened using warm water, steam or ultraviolet light. Since it is soaked in resin, a sticky and adhesive substance, this process solidifies it, making it very resistant.

Why pipe lining?

We use pipe lining as a repair technique because it reduces the impacts of work sites on residents and drivers. Pipe lining is:

  • Less invasive: Since the road doesn’t need to be completely excavated, the construction site is smaller, which reduces the impacts on traffic considerably.
  • Sustainable: Pipe lining can extend the life of a water line for more than 50 years and reduce the risk of road collapse.

Repair work all year long

Unlike drinking water lines, sewer lines can undergo pipe lining any time of year. ​​​​​​​

Quick search