With kilometres of ageing water and pressure sewer pipelines across Australia and New Zealand coming up for renewal, many asset owners are looking for practical, affordable, long-term solutions.

Asset owners face significant challenges when tackling the problem of ageing infrastructure, with projects sitting around for years, waiting for the right technology and delivery partner to come along. Environmental constraints, budget limitations and delivery risk are all factors that can stop a project getting off the ground.

The key is engaging suppliers early and coming up with solutions together and keeping an open mind to alternate proposals at the time of tender.

Primus line, a flexible liner reinforced with aramid fabric is one solution that is getting buzz for all the right reasons. The tried and tested technology provides a practical, high-quality lining solution for ageing pressure pipelines that’s both environmentally friendly and cost-effective.

Leading pipeline infrastructure solutions provider Interflow has partnered with Primus Line to provide the innovative system to the Australia and New Zealand market.

Leveraging their five-year exclusivity agreement, the two companies have made a significant impact throughout the year, rehabilitating some of Australia and New Zealand’s most challenging pressure pipelines.

Help for remote mining town

In 2022, Interflow was given the challenge of rehabilitating a deteriorating section of steel water pipe supplying the remote mining town of Paraburdoo.

The pipeline runs through an area of environmental and cultural significance, so a non-invasive solution was crucial.

Using Primus Line, Interflow relined a kilometre of water main in a single pull – which meant no digging or disturbance along the alignment.

The project took just over a week and only a single truck was needed to transport the spool of liner and associated fittings – a significant benefit when the nearest major city is 1,500km away.

More recently, Interflow used Primus Line to rehabilitate and recommission two out of service sewer mains in Sydney’s Inner West. Limited access to the alignment and the presence of both vertical and horizontal bends ruled out conventional solutions like slip lining and pipe bursting.

Primus Line handles bends up to 45 degrees with ease, making it the ideal candidate for the job.

Interflow returned the two mains to service with minimal disruption to the busy residential and commercial community.

Challenging projects

One of Interflow’s more challenging projects of 2022 involved 1.4km of pipeline that transports raw water from a dam to a nearby town.

Located deep within a state park and traversing steep and rocky terrain, replacing the pipeline would have been a costly exercise with unacceptable risk to the environment. The rugged location left little access to the alignment of the pipe.

Having access only to the ends of the line, Primus Line was installed in one continuous pull. This marked the longest single pull of Primus Line in Australia to date and opens the opportunity for longer pulls of a similar nature in the future.

The project was recognised as the winner of an Infrastructure Project Innovation award from the Australian Water Association in Victoria.

Innovation to be future-ready

There is a growing need for asset owners to look for innovative ways to address issues like rising costs, resource availability and the need to support net zero targets.

As we move in to 2023 and beyond, innovative technology like Primus Line presents an exciting opportunity for the water industry to overcome these issues and extend the life of ageing infrastructure for decades to come.

With local supply right here in Australia, Interflow is ready to support high priority projects without supply-chain setbacks.

Speak to them today about your pipeline infrastructure problems.

Since its inception in 1936, Interflow has carved out its place as a leader in pipeline infrastructure. Today, the company is regarded as Australia and New Zealand’s leading provider of trenchles pipeline solutions, developing innovative methods to extend the operational life of water networks across Australasia. Employing over 600 field crew and office-basedteam members, Interflow has completed works for major water authorities and government bodies in the watermains, wastewater, stormwater, and culvert sectors. Specialists in bothtrenchless technology as well as dig-and-replace methods, Interflow has offices in Sydney, Charmhaven, Canberra, Melbourne, Bendigo, Brisbane, Caboolture, Mackay, Adelaide, Perth, and Auckland, with headquarters in Girraween, NSW. Interflow serves the following industries: Water, Wastewater, Stormwater and Culverts. The company offers project planning, design, investigation and condition assessment, new construction, asset rehabilitation and renewal, periodic maintenance, and emergency services.

For further information, please visit www.interflow.com.au.