250M X 355MM RIVER CROSSING

In 2017 SWDD were approached to provide a horizontal directional drilling solution to provide some emergency works to link two drainage ditches, on either side of the River Parrot.

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The works were required by the River Parrot Drainage Board, as part of the Somerset Drainage Board Consortium. The pipe was required to provide fields on either side of the River Parrot with a source of water which was not contaminated by salt from the river parrot which is tidal. The original source of water was undersized and had been damaged by the river, and was also now visible at low tide.

SWDD quickly put together a design package which entailed Directional Drilling of a 250m x 355mm o.d. HDPE pipe, 5m beneath the bed of the fast-flowing and tidal river. The intention of the pipe was to effectively allow gravity and hydraulics to balance out the drainage ditch on the South which had fresh water, with the ditch on the North which had very little water. Silt guards were installed, to prevent blockage, but also as the pipe was proposed HDPE, it could be pressurised and cleaned in the future with a compressor and foam pig.

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SWDD mobilised, directionally drilled, provided and Butt-Fused the pipework, and had the river crossing installed within four days. Upon seeing how much of a success the works were, SWDD were then further tasked with providing another 200m of gravity drainage installations around the site.

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All works were completed successfully and on budget.

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Link to the press release: