WATER TREATMENT, DRAINAGE & PIPED SERVICES
Brownfield development: How barrier pipework can meet the challenges of delivering potable water to new homes
David Thomas, head of technical services at Aliaxis, looks at some of the hurdles posed by brownfield development and how barrier pipework systems can provide a safe, protected water supply
A
s the Government commits to get the country building again in order to deliver 1.5 million homes over the course of this parliament, millions in funding is being given to
councils to unlock disused brownfield sites. The Government is paving the way for the
largest house building programme since the post-war era1, including plans for the next generation of new towns, capable of each delivering 10,000 homes or more. The Government has also set a clear hierarchy
of brownfield first, grey belt second and green belt third, with further funding to drive regeneration. This brownfield-first approach2 with funding
through the £68 million Brownfield Land Release Fund, means disused buildings, former car parks, industrial wastelands and neglected urban sites can be cleared to make way for housing. However, many brownfield sites also contain contaminated land which can present multiple build issues, especially when it comes to ensuring a clean and safe drinking water supply for future residents. Brownfield land is a site previously developed for industrial or commercial purposes which requires further development before reuse. The legal definition of contaminated land, as in Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, states that land is contaminated if it appears to be causing or likely to cause significant harm to people or protected species. It is also contaminated if it is likely to cause or is causing significant pollution of controlled waters. Ground pollutants can therefore pose significant challenges due to previous occupancy of the site. It means developing brownfield land can be complicated and expensive, especially if the history of a site is not fully documented, making it difficult to determine what chemicals are present. There are also other factors to consider when selecting a water supply pipework. Installation techniques, ongoing maintenance and the overall longevity of the system are all critical elements in the comprehensive development plan. Water supply solutions must be safe, but they must also fit into the budget of development projects. Traditional water supply systems can be
permeable to certain hydrocarbons such as white spirit, petrol and diesel – all of which may be present within brownfield sites. Other pollutants can include substances such as heavy metals, oils and tars, chemical substances and preparations, gases, asbestos and radioactive substances.
In order to reduce the level of contamination, the land must be restored or a suitable barrier pipe must be installed; more often than not, barrier pipes end up being a more commercially viable option.
When it comes to analysing what contaminants are in the ground, one method is to carry out remediation work on the soil, prior to development, involving investigation of numerous soil samples, site inspection and desktop studies before making a decision on the pipe material to be used. However, this approach can run up significant costs, impacting on both the project’s budgets and timescales. In many cases, the need for soil testing can be negated by using a multi-layered barrier pipework system.
A PE barrier pipe with an aluminium barrier layer (PE-Al-PE) provides an effective barrier against most contaminants. A barrier pipe is fully tested to stringent BS8588 industry standards offering a higher level of protection over medium and high density polyethylene (MDPE or HDPE) pipes which can be degraded by certain contaminants.
Most developers, water companies and consultants now use the UK Water Industry Research (UKWIR) recommendations on which water supply pipes can be used on brownfield sites. Single-layer pipes are not seen as safe to use as they will not be resistant to the permeation of pollutants. Furthermore, the UKWIR project steering group has stated that a PE-AI-PE barrier pipe will provide sufficient protection for the supply of drinking water in all brownfield sites. Such barrier pipework systems incorporate a polyethylene core for carrying the clean water, an impermeable aluminium barrier layer and finally an outer polyethylene layer for protection. This ensures that potable water can be transported safely and is free from potentially dangerous toxins. The lightweight nature of a polyethylene pipe, combined with a wide range of jointing methods, also helps save time and costs on site.
26 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER FEBRUARY 2026
Barrier pipes are lightweight and flexible, making them quick and easy to install, and can be joined using mechanical, electrofusion, or butt- fusion methods. The smooth bore of PE resists corrosion, ensuring flow is not restricted over the lifetime of the system. They can also be used for trenchless installations.
One example of such a barrier pipework solution is our Protecta-Line, a tough, multi- layer system approved to BS8588 and WRAS approved. It has been utilised by water companies and housebuilders for more than 25 years to deliver a clean and safe water supply to homes built on contaminated land or any site that may have a future contamination concern. Protecta-Line offers a complete and fully
approved barrier system, individually kitemarked as a complete barrier system. Further development has also seen the introduction of the Adjusta barrier boundary box. Designed to house the water meter at the boundary between the water main and the domestic supply, which can provide a shield against all known contaminants. As the Government looks to brownfield sites to help it meet its housing targets, barrier pipework systems are seen as a long-term, reliable solution for housebuilders, contractors and utilities to deliver safe drinking water.
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