What Does
Groundwater Infiltration Mean?
Groundwater infiltration (GWI) is the process by which groundwater finds its way into the underground water and sewerage system. Small leaks, openings, defective joints and cracks are the main causes for infiltration. GWI infiltration is unavoidable to a certain extent, but it should be kept in control to prevent overloading of treatment plants, especially where combined sewer systems are still in use.
During peak monsoon season, this can also contribute to the problem of flooding. Trenchless rehabilitation methods can be used to find and repair problem spots to minimize infiltration.
Trenchlesspedia Explains Groundwater Infiltration
Groundwater levels vary during different seasons, and when levels are high, they can become a cause for concern, especially in low lying areas. This can overburden the capacity of wastewater treatment facilities, resulting in higher treatment costs, because infiltrated water, when mixed with sewage water, will need to be treated like sewage. It can also cause backflow into homes and into waterways, resulting in pollution.
Trenchless rehabilitation methods such as cured-in-place-pipe (CIPP), mechanical spot repairs, shotcrete and sliplining can be used to remedy cracks, damaged pipe sections and leaks. Inspection of pipelines using robot-mounted cameras can help pinpoint damaged areas and appropriate methods can be used to rectify them. The use of robotic cameras is called pigging.