Sewers up to a century old to have life extended
Five weeks of sewer relining begins this week.
The work renovating critical sewers across the island has the aim of adding at least a further 50 years to the pipes’ life.
In total 1.7km are being relined by specialist UK contractors using the latest technology.
A further 500m will be investigated for work in 2025.
To minimise disruption and maximise efficiency, roads where the sewers are being relined will need to be closed. On average, each closure will be for two or three days, with the longest closure being Fosse Andre, which will be closed for up to for seven days.
Work has been timed to take place in the school holidays, when the roads are generally quieter, and in the summer to maximise work in the daylight and drier weather.
‘We really appreciate people’s patience as we work on this critical island infrastructure,’ said Guernsey Water capital delivery manager Carl Falla.
‘This targeted programme will reline sewers which are up to 100 years old and will add around half a century to their lifespan. Any intervention now is more cost-effective and far, far less disruptive than digging up and fixing a collapsed sewer.
‘If a sewer collapses the cost of repair and reinstatement would likely run into hundreds of thousands of pounds. Wastewater services are needed 24/7, and it’s our job to make sure they are available, sufficient, resilient and maintained in the most cost-effective way possible.’
The priority schedule of works has been devised from a wide-ranging CCTV sewer condition survey. Planning for this five weeks of relining has taken a year.
‘Sewers identified from the survey in the most degraded condition are being targeted which serve areas near critical infrastructure, such as the Dairy, hospital, schools and businesses, where any sewer failure would have a disproportionate and serious impact on island life,’ Mr Falla added.
This ‘no-dig’ method of lining saves significant sums of money, costing a fifth of a full replacement and taking just 10% of the time it would take to dig up the road and replace the pipe.
Residents living in the affected roads are being written to with the exact date and times of the closures.
