From compelling conviction to technical mastery.
We look back at a trenchless adventure!
Via Veolia, the Rodez Local Area Authority (8 municipalities) called on DPSM in September 2020 for the collapse of a sewage pipe (200mm-diameter) under a private housing estate in the Luc-la-Primaube district.
This promised to be a complex project for many reasons:
- Its location in a privately owned area
- Its depth of over 3m
- The 4m-length of the collapsed pipe
- The presence of asbestos
Bursting, a solution to be agreed on
On paper, busting appeared to be the best solution for the execution of these works without causing disruption for local residents. Nevertheless, the complex environment and uncertainty as to the passing of the strand wire through the collapsed section, a prerequisite for any bursting operation, meant that DPSM could not fully guarantee a satisfactory result.
In-depth discussions ensued with the customer to inform them of the context, assure them that all necessary measures would be taken to validate this solution, and to suggest a Plan B in the event of technical infeasibility.
The customer was thus fully aware of the stakes at play when agreeing to test this solution.
A successful outcome!
In June 2021, intermediary excavations on public land opened 3/4 of the network to insert the bursting machine provided by another SADE subsidiary, Humbert, based in Trélazé.
From this site, the machine operated rotations to burst and case the pipe in short sections (150mm-diameter) around this entry point and to the two manholes located at the exit points.
The soil then compacted naturally around the new pipe laid in place.
In this 10-day operation, including survey and discussions, DPSM prioritised transparency and the showcasing of its technical expertise. Its open and accessible approach earned the customer’s trust while emphasising its technical edge.
The advantages of bursting
- Avoids the need for trenches
- Reduces disruption for local residents and users (and in this case, the need to intervene on private land)
- Reduces the risk of damage to utility networks
- Rapid execution (2 thrusts in 2 days)
