The Role of CIPP in Maintaining Clean Water and Wastewater Systems

Good water management, including the provision of clean water and the removal of wastewater and sewage on a consistent and constant basis, means having access to a reliable pipe network.

However, ageing pipes represent a problem that countless areas and councils have to navigate, as the steady disintegration of pipes impacts local infrastructure, the economy, access routes, and more.

Traditionally, a burst or damaged pipe meant a costly replacement project – bringing in local engineers to excavate the ground, remove the damaged section of pipe, and replace it with a new line of pipe.

That is, until 1971, when Insituform introduced a new approach to the market…

What is CIPP and How Does it Work?

CIPP stands for Cured-in-Place Pipe lining and is a method through which ageing pipes can be rehabilitated rather than replaced.

The main benefit of this approach lies in both the remote activation of the liners and the fact that they can restore a pipe to full usage without excavating, exposing, or removing it.

The liners, which are constructed from recycled felt materials and are embedded with resin, are fed into the damaged pipe. Steam or hot water activates the resin, which fixes to the inside wall of the pipe and hardens to create a brand new layer.

The standard of this resin and the way it hardens means that the newly rehabilitated pipe enjoys the same quality as a brand-new pipe. Engineers around the world acknowledge the incredible strength of CIPP-repaired pipes, both in containing a high internal pressure and keeping the weight of external forces out.

CIPP as a Modern Solution for Ageing Water Systems

Now that we know a bit more about CIPP liners and how the process of installing and activating CIPP works, let’s consider its role as a modern solution against ageing water systems.

The issue with maintaining an ageing water system, whether it’s delivering clean water or removing sewage and wastewater, is that the risk of disintegration is high. The impact of disintegration can be huge, flooding local areas and halting both traffic and the local economy as a repair solution is sought.

CIPP represents a modern solution against these systems, thanks to the efficiency of the rehabilitation process and its cost-effective installation method.

CIPP liners work in minutes and demand a mere fraction of the resources that pipe replacement requires. What’s more, sustainability underpins the design and use of CIPP liners, with the felt manufactured using up to 75% recycled material, with 90% of the waste created during manufacturing being recycled.

Comparing that to the costly process of hiring equipment and bringing in countless engineers to dig up the road and surface, identify the damaged pipe, remove it, then source and install a new pipe, quickly shines a spotlight on the ease of CIPP solutions.

Why is it Important to Maintain Water Systems?

Throughout this article, in identifying and exploring the benefits of CIPP liners, we’ve touched on the need for good water system maintenance.

Without it, these systems can fast disintegrate and cause major disruption to both local water supply and waste removal. When a pipe bursts, it leaks water and/or waste into the surrounding environment, flooding roads and access routes, and impacting local businesses and residents.

A fast response in light of this kind of incident is crucial, minimising the damage and disruption. Which is why, at Insituform, we have developed CIPP liners to meet the needs of endless pipe networks and systems, spanning a diameter range between 70mm and 2,500mm, and a shot length of up to 200m.

To learn more about how CIPP liners could speed up your pipeline repair work, the Insituform team is here to help. Give us a call or get in touch via our website to discuss the provision of CIPP felt liners, to find out about the training and support we provide, and to reach our installation team directly.