News>Clearflow Does Not Just Clean Pipelines

Water Business (Official Journal of Australian Water Association) | October, 2002

CLEARFLOW AUSTRALIA DOES NOT JUST CLEAN PIPELINES

Pipeline cleaning company, Clearflow Australia, has faced its quota of unusual challenges in the past, particularly when undertaking assignments in outlying or out-of-the-way locations.

One recent assignment to clean water pipelines was in the Gulf Country in Northern Australia. Away from major towns, the supplies or fittings that may be required could be 4-5 days delivery time away. It is important to have the necessary equipment or have the ability to improvise, without compromise to job quality, according to David Elderfield, Clearflow’s Managing Director.

After surveying the reticulation system in conjunction with the maps, the Clearflow crew realised that what the maps indicated was not quite the same as the actual system.

David Elderfield said that they realised that “with correct planning and execution we could improve the existing system and at the same time clean the pipelines.”

“By cutting in some new fittings, and improvising with temporary attachments, we could not only improve the existing system on practical grounds but at the same time, using the same shut down, we successfully removed the heavily built up debris from the internal bores.”

With no more inconvenience to the consumer than originally advised. The larger delivery mains required pigging whilst the smaller mains were cleaned using air scouring procedures.

On conclusion of the operation the local council had full knowledge of how the system worked, what pipeline connected into what and where, and what valve shut down what line. All the water mains were thoroughly cleaned and the town maps were brought up to date.