Water Pipe Leak Repair Avoids Digging Up Mains

Curapipe Systems has developed a water-pipe leakage repair system that detects, seals and cures utility distribution pipes without the need for digging up streets.

The Israeli company recently signed a multi-year contract to provide Jerusalem water utility Hagihon with its services.

Curapipe's trenchless automated leakage repair (TALR) system offers a possible solution to the problem of water leakage from urban water systems. The World Bank says this may amount to more than 32 billion cubic meters, or 25%, of all treated water annually.

The method commonly used for leakage control is “find-and-fix," which takes care of high-volume leaks as they occur but may do little for bulk reduction of leakage. Main replacement also is effective in reducing leakage levels but is costly and can involve service disruptions.

The Curapipe system uses a pipeline pig train of the sort used in the oil and gas industry that is fixed to an upstream fire hydrant or hot tap. The train contains a compartment of special viscous curing substances lodged between the pigs.

Operating under pressure, the curing substance penetrates leaky joints, fittings and service connections and plugs leaks. The pig train is then extracted through a downstream fire hydrant, the substance hardens and the leaks are repaired. The curing substance is designed so that no undesirable components enter the potable water.

TALR is intended to work with any type of pipeline (ferrous, plastic, cement, asbestos and so on)—provided the pipe is in structurally sound condition. Treatment is designed to last 3-4 decades, typically for the remaining lifetime of the pipe.

According to Curapipe, there is no limit to the number or shape of leaks that can be treated in a given section of pipe.