Cross Connection Install in Ascot for Affinity Water

The brief

Affinity Water engaged us to install a cross connection on their distribution network in Ascot, Berkshire. A cross connection ties two sections of water main together at a single point of pipework, creating a deliberate junction between what would otherwise be two independent runs. Utilities use them for network resilience, to enable flow re-routing during maintenance, to extend capacity, or to create redundant paths between separately managed zones.

The job involved fabricating the connection pipework, tapping into both parent mains, and commissioning the new connection into live service. As with most work on live distribution mains, the constraint was keeping water flowing to customers throughout. A cross connection that takes a supply zone off-line to install itself defeats the point of the asset.

Our approach

Lukos and Kris carried out the works. Under-pressure drilling was used to tap both parent mains, which allowed the new connection pipework to be jointed onto the existing network without shutting it down. Parallel pipework was fabricated and installed to tie the two mains together, with isolation valves fitted at the tie-in points so Affinity’s operational teams can open or close the cross connection as and when the network strategy requires.

The assembly was pressure tested and commissioned into service on completion, at which point the two sections of main were operationally linked via the new cross connection.

Outcome

New cross connection installed, pressure tested, and commissioned live. Two sections of the Affinity Water distribution network now operationally linked, giving the utility’s network team additional flexibility for future flow management, isolation strategy, and maintenance sequencing across the Ascot area.

For the technique in more depth see our under pressure drilling capability page. The service context sits under water mains repair and maintenance for water companies.