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Sight Lines prevents burst pipe disasters

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Averda’s highly-specialised pipe inspection service, Sight Lines, is able to detect and repair leaking pipes before they burst. Preventing burst pipe disasters is important in South Africa because water is a scarce commodity and it can prevent contamination in cases where pipes carry hazardous substances.Municipalities and industrial businesses around the country constantly battle with leaking and burst pipes. “Obviously the full extent of the problem is difficult to quantify, but recent reports have estimated that we’re losing an average of 25% of water nationally, with the worst affected municipalities losing as much as 65% of their water,” says Sight Lines general manager Claude Marais.“While it would be naïve to believe we can reduce this to zero, our experience shows that we can significantly cut water leaks through a programme of planned assessment and maintenance,” says Marais.

Burst pipes result in millions of rands lost

Transporting liquids through pipes, be it water, sewage, oil or chemicals, is big business. The infrastructure alone costs millions to install. Keeping pipe systems in top working order is a difficult task when they are buried underground. If a pipe leaks or bursts, it can cost the government or a business millions of rands in repairs and lost liquid commodities.Sight Lines offers routine pipe inspection, using the latest laser, sonar, mapping and global positioning system (GPS) technology. Our services include multisensor pipe inspection, CCTV pipe inspection, internal pipe cleaning and leak detection for a range of pipe sizes.

Technology simplifies prevention of burst pipes

Sight Lines uses remotely operated vehicles fitted with imaging devices and an array of sensors to map pipe profiles and inspect the internal structure of pipe systems. These vehicles are also fitted with accurate GPS tracking devices and onboard inclinometers that measure slopes and elevations.All of this technology helps Sight Lines generate a bank of data that is used to create detailed three-dimensional models of the pipe system. The data is also used to compile diagnostic reports of the condition of the pipes. The reports include information such as the internal condition of the structure, maps, geographical information system (GIS) data and more.“Presenting this type of information to customers simplifies their maintenance programmes because they’re able to understand the nature of defects, prioritise problem areas and carry out targeted repairs,” says Marais. Once a leak is detected, the vehicle can mark its exact location. This will help repair teams to dig in the right spot in order to find the leak and prevent the pipe from bursting.Sight Lines has been inspecting pipes for over 20 years, helping municipalities, farmers, factories and hospitals keep their pipes in working order to prevent leaks and bursts. Our service offerings will help to reduce liquid loss through damaged pipes and prevent pipes from bursting. In the long-run, this will reduce overall maintenance costs as potential problems can be detected and repaired before they get worse.___Averda is a leading waste management provider with over 50 years of experience across three continents. Through growth, transformation and engagement, we strive to find new ways of managing waste while protecting the community and environment. ___By pairing international expertise with local insights, we have secured our position as one of South Africa’s most respected providers of waste management and industrial cleaning services. We also operate in the recycling, pipe inspection, CCTV, infrastructure inspection, hydro-demolition, high-pressure water jetting and catalyst handling industries. ___Follow us Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn for the best tips on recycling and the latest industry news. See our Instagram and YouTube channels for more insights into environmental affairs and our work with local communities.