Project Overview

A commercial sewage treatment plant located in the car park of a busy pub required the installation of a 63mm pumped outlet pipe. The pipeline needed to span approximately 80 meters, crossing the rear gardens of eight residential properties. The client’s priorities were to avoid disruption to the pub’s operations and preserve the integrity of all private gardens. Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) was selected to enable a fully trenchless solution with minimal surface impact.

• Client: Private Commercial Operation
• Location: The Pastures, Upton Bishop
• Duration: 2 days
• Method: Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD)
• Length: ~80 meters
• Pipe Installed: 63mm PE Pressure Pipe
• Soil Conditions: Variable garden subsoils with minor obstacles

Challenges & Solutions

• Maintaining Access to the Pub:
  The treatment plant was located within the pub’s active car park, making it essential to avoid disruption. The drill setup was carefully staged to keep the car park fully operational throughout the works.
• Navigating Curved Bore Path:
  The pipeline passed through the back gardens of eight homes, which followed a curved alignment. This required precise steering and depth control to navigate beneath fences, trees, and landscaping features without surface disturbance.
• Accurate Termination:
  The pipe needed to be accurately terminated into an existing manhole at the final property. This was achieved through real-time bore tracking and controlled pilot steering to ensure pinpoint accuracy at exit.

Execution Strategy

• Non-Invasive Drilling:
  The pilot bore was drilled in a single run, maintaining depth and trajectory to avoid any surface contact. Garden access was preserved, and no excavation was required in seven of the eight properties.
• Controlled Pipe Installation:
  The 63mm pipe was pulled back through the completed bore with precision. The team employed low-impact torque settings to protect delicate garden features during installation.
• Final Connection:
  The pipe was successfully terminated into the existing manhole at the final property, where the only open excavation was performed. The connection was pressure-tested and securely sealed.

Outcome

The new outlet pipeline was installed completely trenchlessly, with zero disruption to gardens and no interruption to pub operations. The project was completed on schedule in just 2 days. This installation demonstrates the effectiveness of HDD for sensitive residential and commercial environments, delivering a long-term, low-impact solution with minimal footprint.