Lead reduction effort

Morrison Utility Services (MUS) has teamed up with US company Pipe Restoration Technologie (PRT) to form a joint venture - Pipe Restoration Services (PRS).


The venture is in response to the strict lead reduction guidelines that UK water companies will face from 2013.

Under the new guidelines, lead content in drinking water must be reduced from its current 25μg/l to new World Health Organisation standards of 10μg/l.

Joint venture PRS aims to provide the technology to line service pipes with a blown-in-place epoxy resin (ePIPE) as an alternative to lead service pipe replacement. Using this system means nothing, but air and resin enters the service pipe to form a barrier coating to prevent leaching of lead.

MUS executive director, John Coyne, said: “We are excited by the prospect of bringing this innovative technology to the UK as we believe it offers scope to assist water companies in dealing with the key challenges of dissolved lead. We will be offering this service through PRS to the whole market as a specialist service.”

ePIPE has been used in the US and worldwide in potable water systems. PRT chief executive Larry Gillanders explained: “ePIPE is a proven technology, used extensively for small diameter internal and external water supply pipe restoration.”

The system has been adapted for the UK market, and PRS is seeking DWI approval for the specific application of lining lead services and internal pipework.

According to MUS, the challenge of rectifying lead issues is a “headache” for the water sector.

By using an adapter at the stop tap, ePIPE can be applied to the service pipe in one operation and with only one excavation over the ferrule connection to the water main.

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