• Yorkshire Water is light years ahead
June 12, 2009 -- New technology which enables Yorkshire Water to reline sewer pipes without having to dig up the road is being used for the first time in Yorkshire this week at a site in Knaresborough.
The equipment -- utilized by specialist contractor Waterflow -- works by using state-of-the-art, remotely-controlled computers to guide a hi-tech light train through a sewer using ultra-violet rays to seal a new lining in place.
UV Light Train could revolutionize the way sewers are relined in Yorkshire.The benefits of the technology are huge as not only does it allow the company to maintain the sewers without having to dig trenches, it's much faster and more environmentally friendly.
Today's work in Knaresborough has also brought benefits to a set of customers who don't have to pay for their water - a sett of badgers! If the sewer had been renewed using traditional methods, the badgers would have had to move because parts of the site would have been dug up to allow work crews to reach the sewer.
Sewer pipes can date back to the Victorian times and were built to last but many are now reaching the end of their natural life and need replacing our relining.
Project engineer at Yorkshire Water Colin Sinclair said: "Using the new method allows us to upgrade sections of the sewer network which would normally have been very difficult to reach and today's work is a great example of the benefits it can bring.
"By being able to remotely-control the ultra-violet light train while it's inside the sewer, we can get a perfect seal on the pipe without having to disrupt traffic by digging up large sections of the road."
Contracts Manager at Waterflow Robert Nugent said: "This new technology is faster and more cost effective than excavating and replacing old pipes. We are extremely pleased to be partnering with Yorkshire Water on this project and working together to bring new technology into the market for the benefit of their customers.
"We hope this method of renovating old pipes and sewers will be adopted by all forward thinking water companies such as Yorkshire Water."
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