Future-proof pressure pipeline route in a new levee body

Reinforcing a dike when a crucial wastewater pressure pipeline runs right through the future dike body requires a well-thought-out solution. If the pipeline is left in place, future maintenance will be virtually impossible without breaking open the flood defense. Relocating it is therefore unavoidable. During the dike reinforcement project in Arcen, the Limburg Water Board, the Arcen Dike Zone Alliance (DZA), and GW Leidingtechniek jointly developed a solution that was also implemented with virtually zero emissions.

GW Leidingtechniek is one of the three regular contractors for the Limburg Water Board for pipe replacement. “Our collaboration with Ploegam, one of the partners within DZA, has also been in place for years and took shape during previous dike reinforcement projects in Nieuw-Bergen and Steyl, among other locations,” says Dirk Aerts of GW Leidingtechniek. “We were also involved early on in the dike reinforcement project in Arcen. Together, we determined the optimal route for the new pressure pipeline, so that the flood barrier won’t need to be broken open in the event of any future repairs or replacements.”

From PVC to HDPE

Most of the new pressure pipeline was installed inside the dike, between the Meuse River and the floodwall. “We replaced the approximately 450-meter-long PVC pressure pipe in two phases. This allowed us to coordinate our work with that of the Arcen Dike Zone Alliance as effectively as possible,” Dirk explains. “To ensure wastewater discharge during the work, a temporary pipeline system (TLI) was installed. The existing PVC pipe was then removed and replaced with an HDPE 400 SDR11 pressure pipe.” The new pipe is significantly stronger and, according to Dirk, has an expected service life of fifty years. “For the first 10 to 20 years, at least, the Limburg Water Board won’t have to worry about it.”

Steel casing pipes

The pressure pipeline transports all the wastewater from Arcen, which is collected at the Arcen pumping station. From there, the water is pumped to the wastewater treatment plant in Blerick. Only the section of the pipeline within the dike reinforcement project area has been replaced and connected to the existing PVC pipeline outside this area. “At the locations where the new pipeline crosses the Meuse flood barrier, we installed the pipeline inside steel casing pipes. This will allow the pressure pipeline to be replaced or repaired in the future without having to break open the flood barrier. The pipeline then only needs to be excavated on both sides of the barrier, after which a new section of pipeline can easily be inserted,” says Dirk.

The project took about five months to complete, with high water levels throwing a wrench in the works on several occasions. “As soon as the Meuse rose more than a meter, work had to be halted. Nevertheless, the schedule remained manageable thanks to good coordination among all parties involved,” says Dirk, who adds that GW Leidingtechniek largely used zero-emission equipment and battery packs provided by DZA. “The project provided us with valuable experience working emission-free in a complex environment. I’ll be applying this knowledge and experience to the emission-free projects GW Leidingtechniek will carry out in the future.”