3L Safety Pipe System in Water Protection Zone

During the construction of a new sewer for connection to the nearest wastewater treatment plant, two water protection zones had to be crossed in Liedertswil, Switzerland. The egeSmart:Leak Control 3L from egeplast provides the necessary permanent leak monitoring for this. The direct connection to the central wastewater treatment plant with the fully monitored pipe system offers the operator a cost advantage of 40%.

Previously, the Office for Industrial Operations had conducted a feasibility study to determine whether the local wastewater treatment plant in Liedertswil, in the Swiss canton of Basel-Landschaft, should be renovated or rebuilt, or whether a connecting channel through a water protection area to the nearest central wastewater treatment plant should be constructed. This was because the plant, which went into operation in 1968 – one of 22 decentralized wastewater treatment plants of the Office for Industrial Operations – was in great need of maintenance and expansion.

The study showed that a new construction at the same location was not possible due to increased space requirements for enhanced operational safety and the limited space available on site. Due to the underlying groundwater protection zone 2, a new construction would entail increased demands on structures and monitoring technology.

An annual cost comparison of the options revealed a cost advantage of approximately 40% for the connecting channel through the water protection area to the nearest wastewater treatment plant. Centralized wastewater treatment also offers the advantages of increased operational safety and treatment performance. The necessary capacities for community development are also provided by the direct connection.

Thus, the decision was made in favor of constructing a new sewer for direct connection to the regional wastewater treatment plant Niederdorf. The route passes through two water protection zones and therefore requires monitoring. The solution for the approximately 1.7 km crossing of the water protection zones is the egeSmart:Leak Control 3L, which was used with an outer diameter of 315 mm.

The fully monitored pipe system offers 100% leak monitoring for soil and water protection. Early detection through continuous observation of relevant values makes it possible to intervene before potential damage occurs, thus preventing accidents. This early warning system enables the safe transport of water-hazardous substances through groundwater protection zones and is described and recognized in regulations (e.g., ATV-DVWK-A-142).

Remote maintenance and permanent control of the monitored pipe system

The egeSmart:Leak Control 3L is a permanently or discontinuously monitored pipe system that reports and locates damage – even without grid-dependent power. This monitored pipe system can also be viewed and controlled via any internet access, enabling a quick response from the operator.

A monitoring unit connected to the pipe triggers an alarm even in the event of minor damage to the pipe system. Notifications are sent directly to the control center or to a smartphone, or can be viewed online.