With an investment price tag at over £50m, Burroughs were engaged by Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water (DCWW) as lead designers for two major watermain refurbishment projects in the South Wales Valleys. The Maerdy Valley was one of these, the other being the Rhymney Valley, both successfully delivered hitting critical MI targets.

The Maerdy Distribution-Zonal Study (DZS) resulted in the requirement for source-to-tap detailed design for the replacement and refurbishment of over 30km of potable trunk main up to 450mm diameter. The location of the existing assets within congested streets necessitated creative design utilising a variety of materials and installation techniques – HPPE, Protectaline, Ductile – traditional open-cut, slip-lining and pipe bursting. Burroughs worked with the contractor to develop tailored solutions for this multi-million pound zonal project. The works were meticulously phased to allow the installation contractor to bring water with the works without compromising the existing asset, public supply and creating sharp velocity changes that may result in consequential dirty water events.

The Porth Scheme is part of the Maerdy project, incorporating complex connections and interoperation between reservoir and pumping mains, narrow and congested streets through the town centre. Our involvement extended to the design coordination with the Local Authorities and Highways Departments due to the severity and consequential impact on the transportation through the area. Throughout the duration of this scheme, we have helped the client and contractor overcome highly complex and bespoke off-site manufacture of bend arrangements, thrust solutions on steeply sloping hillsides and technical review of service/drainage crossings involving assessment of shallow depth installations.

The overwhelming success of this scheme and working relationships led into the Rhymney Trunk Mains works, bringing with us lessons learnt, innovative techniques and project efficiency.