WRc opens new above ground small diameter drain/sewer flow testing facility
 The small drains and small sewers around property are far more likely to suffer a blockage than larger sewers. In some cases these blockages lead to internal sewage flooding of property.
WRc has been investigating the characteristics of sewer solid flow movement/blockages for a number of years through a variety of tests with rig scale based testing. These capabilities have recently been enhanced by the opening of a new above ground small diameter drain/sewer flow test facility.
The new facility enables different combinations of drain/sewer to be tested for their sewer solid transport ability. Typically 100mm, 150mm and 225mm diameter pipes can be tested at a variety of gradients using different WC and other inputs. An important part of the facility is the ability to “build in” defects, to better understand the influence that they would have on causing a blockage.
The test rig is available to be used for a wide variety of testing, these include the:
- Effect of reduced water usage on movement of solids in small pipes, in particular low flush WCs
- Effect of using more efficient pipework arrangements e.g. pipework from the property, on sewer solid movement
- Effect of using flushing devices e.g. tipping buckets, to reduce the likelihood of blockages in low flush WC situations
- Effect of different drainage specifications e.g. pipe diameter and/or gradient, on the likelihood of blockages in low flush WC situations
- Effect of relining pipes and other localised pipe repairs on reducing blockages in order drain/sewer systems
- Effect of reduced water usage on the movement of disposable products through the drainline.
WRc are flexible on how the rig can be hired. This can range from an organisation hiring the rig for specific testing, through WRc helping in the designing and undertaking the tests, to WRc providing independent testing to give an approval for a specific product.
If you would like more information on this facility, please contact Andy Drinkwater
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