This procedure has been especially designed for trenchless replacement of services made of lead in the drinking water supply.
In 1993, the World Health Organization (WHO) lowered the standard value for dissolved lead in drinking water to 10 [g/l. Dissolved lead in drinking water poses a threat particularly for babies and small children.
In order
to guarantee this standard value, approx. 85 % of all existing services
will have to be replaced in the future. The known technologies up to date,
like hydros®BOY procedure, are not applicable because, due to its
physical characteristics, no axial forces can be imposed on the lead material
of these pipelines.
A newly developed special pulling hose creates a form-fitting and frictionally engaged connection between the lead pipeline and the pulling element. Therefore, the necessary pulling force is applied continuously over the total length of the replacement distance and the lead material can be removed from the soil with the help of axial pulling forces.
In order to realize this, a new specially designed hydraulic pulling unit has been manufactured. Due to the use of the Keyhole technology the replacement operation is particularly economical.
The hydros®LEAD technology is a registered project of the worldwide projects of EXPO 2000 world exhibition in Hannover. This also demonstrates the innovative character of this technology.