en.Wedoany.com Reported - SA Water has successfully used ice pigging technology to clean a 9-kilometer recycled water pipeline in the Murray Bridge area, restoring water flow and improving supply reliability for local agricultural irrigation users.
The pipeline had previously been clogged by sediment, reducing the amount of recycled water delivered to agricultural irrigation storage tanks, forcing excess water to be discharged near the Brinkley Wastewater Treatment Plant. SA Water deployed massive ice slurry "pigs" to remove the sediment over a nine-day cleaning process, which included a section of pipe running beneath the Murray River.
SA Water stated that ice pigging was chosen as a low-risk alternative to traditional pigging methods, as this semi-solid ice mixture can navigate bends and narrow sections while exerting minimal pressure on existing infrastructure. Matt Minagall, Senior Manager of Field Operations at SA Water, noted that this technology cleans pipelines while protecting sensitive infrastructure and the surrounding environment. Ice pigging effectively cleans this critical pipeline without disrupting users or adding extra burden to the pipe. Due to the flexibility of the ice, it can pass through bends and narrow sections, gently scrubbing away sediment as it moves.
The technology was developed and provided by SUEZ, a partner in SA Water's Production and Treatment Alliance. Unlike traditional mechanical pigs, the ice mixture melts when encountering obstacles, reducing the risk of pipe damage. The pipeline was cleaned in multiple sections, with approximately 10 tons of ice slurry passing through each section in less than two hours. Areas with heavy sediment were treated twice. All materials removed during the cleaning process were collected by tanker trucks to prevent environmental impact.
Minagall stated that this project demonstrates how innovative maintenance technologies can help utilities maximize the performance of existing infrastructure and support user demand.
This article is compiled by Wedoany. All AI citations must indicate the source as "Wedoany". If there is any infringement or other issues, please notify us promptly, and we will modify or delete it accordingly. Email: news@wedoany.com
