Innovative water line inspection: successful test run in Nieuwegein
More than 122,000 km of water pipes are installed in the Netherlands – that is more than three times the circumference of the Earth at the equator. This enormous infrastructure in the country must be regularly inspected to ensure the safety and reliability of the drinking water supply. Rosenxt Linegy has now successfully carried out a test run for water line inspection in Nieuwegein, a town with a population of almost 66,000 near Utrecht.
On behalf of Waternet, the only Dutch company that acts as both a water authority (drinking water) and a water board (sewage and surface water), around 13.5 kilometers of water pipes were inspected. The inspection technology used was able to detect damage over long distances without interruption of operations. A particular challenge in Nieuwegein was that some of the pipes to be inspected run through a dike near the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal.
Reliable inspection technology
“We are very satisfied with the test run in Niewegein,” reports Berry Krijbolder, Head of New Business Development Water Line Integrity. “We used both our Wirebreak tool and the Multi Cam tool in several passes. The inspection data was of good quality. The result met the client's expectations because it confirmed previous findings but perhaps unhappily identified new findings that need the client's attention.” The next orders for further inspections of water lines with Waternet have already been signed.
Many water lines in Europe are already many decades old, which affects their integrity and leads to water losses. This requires constant attention to continue to meet society's growing needs for water. In addition to inspection services, Rosenxt also offers proactive maintenance and repairs. Through the holistic and proactive approach in managing water line integrity, water utilities can minimize the risk of service interruptions, reduce costs, extend asset lifetime and ensure operational safety.