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'Professionalism and resilience' draw praise from SWW
May Gurney drew praise from its client South West Water (SWW) for the way it handled major emergency repairs to a failed sewer during severe storms.
May Gurney received a call from SWW at 2.30pm on a Friday afternoon, stating that a rising main at appeared to have burst - and that this had created a void in Meadfoot Sea Road, Devon, resulting in raw sewage discharging onto the beach. An emergency repair team and equipment were quickly assembled.
On site tests showed that the rising main was in tact, but that there was no incoming flow at the pump station. It transpired that a 2.1mtr diameter brick tunnel - which runs the length of the road between the rising main and the sea wall - had collapsed. The road was closed and the public advised of the incident and restrictions via media broadcasts.
"It has been a pleasure to work with such a good cooperative team."
Geoff Rogers, South West Water |
Exposing the brick sewer revealed extensive voiding between the sewer and the sea wall, while inspection of the sea wall from the beach confirmed the breach of the wall had caused the bottom of the sewer to collapse.
Weather conditions were poor and further stormy weather was forecast for the next few days. It was therefore critical that the sea wall and the sewer were protected as much as possible.
The battle to stem the discharge and return flows to the pump station continued though out the poor weather and high flows. The Environment Agency, Environmental Heath, Torbay Borough Council and South West Water participated in meetings to discuss the proposed solution and likely time scales. Meanwhile, preparation work continued to enable the final solution to be put into action as soon as the flows subsided.
Eventually the discharge was stopped, flows restored, and the hole in the sea wall plugged with 30m3 of C50 rapid hardening concrete. The following day temporary channel/shuttering was removed, and the result looked good.
At this point the client commended the team on their efforts and achievements - in particular with regard to Health & Safety issues.
Geoff Rogers, SWW Project Manager Strategic Contracts, wrote:
"On behalf of SWW please pass on our thanks to the whole May Gurney team (off site as well as on) who have worked hard for the past week to stop the spillage across the beach at Meadfoot.
"As you are aware, the live flows they had to contend with, the sea and the weather conditions made this a very difficult job. Without their efforts, professionalism and resilience I'm sure we would not have achieved the position we are fortunately in today.
"The whole site and operation has been well organised and resourced from the start, and H&S issues given the highest priority - as they should be.
"From a personal point of view it has been a pleasure to work with such a good cooperative team."
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A sustainable approach
May Gurney's stated goal of 'Being the best' construction and support services company is accelerating its progress in working with customers to develop more sustainable ways of doing business.
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