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G18 Skewen, Port Talbot Ice Pigging Project

Project Location:

Skewen, Port Talbot

Client Name:

Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water

Project Description:

OCU delivered an ice pigging cleaning programme on the G18 trunk water main at Skewen, Port Talbot, in collaboration with Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water.


Enabling works included CCTV surveys, trial holes, installation of hydrants and valves, and water 

quality sampling. Ice pigging was then undertaken by introducing an ice slurry into the pipeline to 

remove sediment and deposits without damaging the pipe walls.Temporary valves and hydrants were installed to ensure effective cleaning of thelive potable water network.

Key Stats:

  • 8,164m of trunk water main cleaned

  • Ice pigging completed over 4 days

  • Zero safety, quality or environmental incidents

  • CCTV surveys completed before and after cleaning works

4 Days

Duration

Challenge

  • Delivering trunk main cleaning on a live potable water network without disrupting customer supply

  • Validating GIS records and asset locations to ensure safe and accurate execution of works

  • Recovering buried or obstructed hydrants and valves affected by mud, debris and historic reinstatements

  • Coordinating network shut-offs and tanker operations

  • Protecting water quality throughout cleaning activities through rigorous operational controls

  • Managing access, logistics and stakeholders within constrained urban environments

Solution

  • Utilised ice pigging technology to remove accumulated deposits while preserving the integrity of the existing pipeline infrastructure

  • Installed temporary valves and hydrants at strategic locations to control ice slurry flow

  • Completed CCTV surveys, trial holes and asset verification to confirm pipeline condition and reduce delivery risk

  • Undertook comprehensive water quality monitoring

  • Coordinated closely with Welsh Water to plan network shutdowns, and maintain continuity of supply to affected customers

  • Sequenced cleaning activities to minimise disruption, optimise network performance and ensure the safe return of assets to service following completion of works

Outcome

  • Successfully cleaned 8,164m of trunk main using ice pigging technology across the live potable water network

  • Removed sediment, deposits and accumulated material without damaging existing pipeline infrastructure

  • Maintained water quality standards throughout the programme through rigorous testing and operational controls

  • Delivered the works with zero safety, quality or environmental incidents

  • Improved hydraulic performance, flow efficiency and long-term reliability across the cleaned sections of network

  • Completed all cleaning activities within programme while minimising disruption to customers and network operations

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