At a major educational and research hub like Flinders University, uninterrupted services are critical—not only for day-to-day campus operations, but also for the wellbeing of staff, students, and the wider community. When a section of the sewer main at the Sturt Campus became persistently blocked and severely deteriorated, a long-term, non-disruptive solution was needed. Plumbing & Pipeline Solutions (PPS) was engaged under a five-year contract to deliver both immediate repairs and ongoing maintenance that would restore reliability to the system and safeguard it for decades to come.
Flinders University had been experiencing recurring issues with a section of its sewer main, which was frequently blocked and showing signs of significant structural defects. A full replacement of the affected section was required, along with a comprehensive plan for long-term plumbing and pipeline maintenance. Given the presence of critical underground services in the area, excavation wasn’t a viable option.
Plumbing & Pipeline Solutions conducted a detailed Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) condition assessment to evaluate the severity of the issue. During this investigation, it became clear that excavation was not possible due to the close proximity of high-pressure gas lines, electricity infrastructure, and telecommunications networks.
To overcome this, PPS employed advanced relining technology using the Cured-In-Place Pipe (CIPP) method. The team used ground-penetrating radar and CCTV tractor cameras to precisely map out the affected areas. Once the section requiring rehabilitation was confirmed, PPS proceeded with relining 110 metres of pipe. The works were carried out with full safety plans and inductions in place, ensuring minimal disruption. The pipeline was only taken offline for 11 hours during the entire process.
Upon completion, the newly relined sewer main underwent rigorous testing to ensure compliance with industry standards. The Office of the Technical Regulator reviewed the works and commended the quality and ease of installation carried out by the PPS team.
The Sturt Campus is now seamlessly connected to the main sewer network, with no interruption to services during or after the works. Thanks to PPS’s expertise and commitment to excellence, the rehabilitated section of sewer main is expected to remain problem-free for at least the next 50 years.
