Total and Wavin contribute to a reliable water supply in South Africa

In Pietermaritzburg, the capital of KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa, city officials were faced with replacing 2,200 meters of ageing metal water pipes as part of their 10 year plan to fight leakages. To minimize the inconvenience to its inhabitants, the Msunduzi Municipality chose to upgrade the existing inner city water mains without excavation, by bursting¹ the old metal pipes and replacing them with Wavin TS^DOQ pipes, made from Total XS^ene XSC50 material.

Active in the pressure pipe industry for almost 40 years, Total strives to offer value-based solutions to its customers. Thanks to its proprietary technology, Total pioneered and has become the leader in PE100-RC (Resistance to Crack), the latest generation of high density polyethylene for pressure pipes. Its XS^ene XSC50 and XRC20 grades are renowned for their quality and used in trenchless pipe laying technologies.

“The PE100-RC concept was originally developed in partnership between our companies and we have used it extensively in our Wavin TS^DOQ pipes” says Ralf Glanert, Product Manager, Wavin. “In the Pietermaritzburg pipe bursting project, the PE100-RC pipes were welded seamlessly into one long section and, in retaining all their strength, they were ideally suited to be pulled below ground through the existing pipe. The slow crack growth resistance of XS^ene XSC50 means, that surface damages during the burstlining and long time point loads, are covered by the TS^DOQ pipe.

Total offers a complete range of black and colored XS^ene compounds for gas and water applications, for use in full wall and multilayer pipe designs. Total’s PE100-RC compounds are the preferred choice for pipe installers and network operators as they allow the use of sandbed-free and trenchless installation techniques with the widest safety margin. In addition to cost savings, trenchless technologies reduce the carbon footprint of traditional construction methods through not closing roads, avoiding traffic detours and reducing roads and pavements repairs.

“The challenge in achieving water conservation is to create a new performing infrastructure where there is none and to rehabilitate ageing systems where they already exist. We aim to offer the best available technical solutions for that” commented Marc van den Berg, Business Manager Infrastructure & Construction, Total. “Once installed, pipes made with our polyethylene are corrosion-free and designed to last for at least 100 years, making them very appealing to efficiency-minded utility companies looking for long term reliable solutions.”

¹ Pipe bursting is a trenchless method of replacing buried pipelines (such as sewer, water, or natural gas pipes) without the need for a traditional open trench. Launching and receiving pits replace the trench necessary in conventional pipe-laying.

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