Pipe rehabilitation of 1000m of a 316mm sewer line in Germiston Continuous blockages and spills in a sewer line in Germiston, Ekurhuleni, necessitated the rehabilitation of the 1000m pipeline.
Camjet recently procured a Ditch Witch JT3020 directional drilling machine, which provided a perfect platform for the company to engage with Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality on this pipe rehabilitation project. The new equipment forms part of the company’s ongoing growth of services related to trenchless technologies, for which there is an increasing demand in order to address the country’s ageing infrastructure.
The Dekema project
Camjet’s investigation team performed an inspection of the sewer line using specialised CCTV equipment. In doing so, the team ascertained that the existing concrete pipe invert had collapsed and the pipe needed to be replaced. Engineers at Ekurhuleni Municipality instructed Camjet to replace the broken pipe using an HDPE PN10 pipe. Camjet surveyed the entire length of the pipeline and that the best and least disruptive method of replacement would be to use the highly capable Ditch Witch directional drilling machine to crack the pipe. The project was complicated by existing services obstructing a large part of the sewer line. These included buildings, a gas line, chemical-related operations, railway lines and a stream.
Work also had to be conducted during high-flow periods and care had to be taken in controlling and containing sewer spillages by means of plugging and over-pumping of the 316 mm sewer line. At one section, a complete diversion was required to ensure no spillage leaked into the adjacent stream. Camjet’s safety team identified the potential risks prior to the commencement of the project and, together with the machine's sophisticated technology, helped drastically minimise the health, safety and environmental impacts that may have occurred.
Camjet’s recent recertification of ISO 9001: 2015 and OHSAS 18001: 2007, coupled with its new certification of ISO 14001: 2015, ensured that even when the work went through a chemical plant, safety requirements were met in accordance
with the facility. To date, approximately 80% of the pipeline has been replaced, with the project expected to be completed by the end of August.
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