Working on a property development or construction project sometimes entails installation, modification and extension of public drainage systems. As a result, you may be required to apply for a Works Over approval. Typically, before proceeding with the project an engineer or Watercare representative will get involved to ensure compliance is met and to ensure that the process won’t put the Watercare assets at risk of getting damaged.
As a drainlayer, we help you ensure that the condition of any public sewer system is investigated before or after any work takes place. The inspection procedure is carried out with CCTV equipment and still images.
Watercare Asset CCTV Inspection
Before Watercare Asset CCTV Pre and Post Inspections became popular, plumbers had to do open-cut excavations. While sewer excavations can deliver results, it can be a very intrusive process. It also consumes a lot of time and costs a lot of money. Unless you are 100 percent sure that the pipe damage is severe, you don’t need to opt for a sewer excavation service.
A CCTV drainage survey is more than enough to help you find the root cause of your drain pipe problems in a residential or commercial property. It’s also the fastest, most practical and cost-effective way to inspect Watercare assets.
How does CCTV Pipes Inspection work?
The process involves inserting a sophisticated camera to inspect the pipes. For larger pipes, like those used in sewerage systems, a CCTV tractor is used. For smaller ones, such as those used in Watercare assets, plumbers utilise a snake profile camera.
As the plumber pushes in the camera inside the pipes, you get to check for possible problems such as clogs, cracks and leaks. You can either have the option to check the video feed in real-time or review it after the service with the DVD provided by the plumbing company.
Typically, the video contains overlaid text containing details like the pipe name, street address, pipe diameter, pipe shape, date and time of CCTV inspection and depth of the access points.
After the survey is done, the plumber will discuss the findings. Below are some of the key things that you can check via a CCTV pipe inspection:
- Hairline cracks that affect the integrity and stability of the pipes
- Bigger cracks that can affect water pressure and bring in sand and silt inside the pipes
- Tree roots and other organic debris stuck inside the pipes
- Punctures on the pipe due to previous renovation work
- Corroded or severely damaged pipes and assembly joints
- Location of other pipe joints and how to access them
- Pests such as cockroaches and rats that poses risk for pipe damage and health issues
Timely or regular inspection of drain pipes through CCTV surveying can help you save a lot of money on repairs or other services. It can also help you find out what plumbing issues you need to address before proceeding with a construction, development, or renovation project. If in case the sewerage pipes in the property need work because of material buildup, you can avail a combo package which includes CCTV pre and post-inspection service and drain unblocking.
Beyond Pipe Repairs and Damage Mitigation
Besides coming handy in finding plumbing issues to fix in a property you already own, a CCTV drain survey can also be useful in other scenarios. For example, before you purchase a new property, you can have the pipes inspected to check for pipe problems.
It will help you determine whether it makes sense to invest money in a certain property. Knowing potential or existing drain pipe issues would also allow you to renegotiate the price so you can make room for your renovation expenses.
A typical CCTV survey would only cost you hundreds of dollars per hour. It’s a good investment whether you’re a property owner or a property developer.
The Drain Pipes are Damaged or Clogged, What’s Next?
If the CCTV survey indeed reveals that your pipes are damaged or clogged, your next priority is to plan your next step. You can figure out the approach to use, depending on the severity of the problem. For example, if the results show hairline cracks, you might need to have the pipes repaired to prevent further damage. If the pipe problem arises from material build-up then the plumber can use a different approach like hydro blasting.
