MAIN FEATURE
1997 Sewer Jetting Code of Practice, an important document that tried to provide operational guidelines to protect the fabric of sewers during cleaning or unblocking. The Manual of Drain and Sewer Cleaning covers high pressure water jetting, rodding, the use of electro- mechanical devices, drain tracing and location techniques, and aims to provide guidance to drainage practitioners and their line managers on how to correctly clean drains and sewers to minimise the risk of re-occurring blockages, minimise adverse impacts on customers and provide a cost-effective service. The manual also refers to other WRc publications like the Drain Repair Book (4th edition) and the Manual of Sewer Condition Classification (5th edition).
companies say they need much more investment to help rehabilitate our sewers and drains and water supplies.
As with all utility supplied systems, one of the most important aspects is correct installation in the first place. The Victorians certainly did a great job; the magnificence of many of their structures testifies to that. But in modern times, we sometimes seem to have struggled to achieve such standards of construction excellence, despite having better technology and superior mechanical aids.
Sewer pipes and drainage systems need to be robust to deal with not just the constant flow of waste water, but also to resist the corrosive nature of much of it. Therefore, some materials have to be excluded to start off with. That leaves various types of plastic (such as uPVC), concrete and clay, which are materials that have better anti-corrosive properties. But each of these materials still need to be treated with care, especially for ongoing maintenance and when clearing blockages. And that ongoing care takes place way after they’ve been installed, IF they’ve been installed correctly in the first place.
What do people refer to?
As previously mentioned, the WRc’s Manual of Drain and Sewer Cleaning is
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probably the bible of sewer network protection. Its first edition was published in 2020 by the WRc and the National Association of Drainage Contractors, and the manual contains everything from drain and sewer blockage clearance to planned sewer cleaning. It built on the
The BPF Pipes Group publishes a number of guidance documents on drains and sewers, including Effective Cleaning of Drains and Sewers, which highlights the different types of materials down there and why extreme care is needed. It also warns that poor workmanship within the drain and sewer network can lead to ineffective cleaning work, damage to the infrastructure, flooding of buildings and
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