Merrydown – Collapsed Drain Pipe Replacement

The Project

Replacing a Collapsed Drain That Could No Longer Be Relined.

KD Drainage attended Merrydown after a blocked drain was found to have suffered a complete structural collapse.

Although drain relining can be an effective trenchless repair for many cracked or damaged drains, the existing pipe in this case had deteriorated too far for lining to provide a suitable solution.

The affected area therefore needed to be excavated so the failed pipe could be removed and replaced.

Our drainage engineers installed a new section of plastic pipework and connected it back into the existing drainage system, restoring the route through the collapsed section.

The Challenge

The Pipe Had Collapsed Beyond a Trenchless Repair.

Trenchless technologies are designed to repair suitable existing drainage from within the pipe, helping avoid excavation where possible.

They still rely on the original drain retaining enough structure for the repair system to be installed effectively.

At Merrydown, the pipe had collapsed to the extent that relining was not the appropriate option.

To restore the drainage properly, KD Drainage needed direct access to the failed section so it could be physically removed and renewed.

Our Solution

The Failed Drain Was Excavated and Renewed With New Plastic Pipework.

Once excavation provided access to the collapsed drain, the defective section could be removed from the drainage run.

KD Drainage then installed a new section of plastic drainage pipe in its place.

The replacement pipe was connected into the existing services on either side of the repair, creating a continuous drainage route through the renewed section.

This provided a practical replacement where the original collapsed pipe could no longer be repaired internally.

Repairing Collapsed Drains

Why Some Drains Need Replacing Rather Than Relining.

Modern drainage repair offers several options, and excavation is not automatically required every time a defect is found.

Cracks, fractures and certain isolated defects may be suitable for drain relining or localised structure repair.

A complete collapse is different because the original pipe may no longer provide the structure needed for an internal repair.

In those circumstances, renewing the pipework by excavation can be the more appropriate solution.

Blocked or Collapsed?

A Persistent Blockage Can Sometimes Point to Structural Damage.

Many blocked drains can be cleared using conventional drainage equipment, but repeated or particularly severe problems can sometimes have a structural cause.

Cracked, displaced or collapsed pipework may restrict the drainage route and cause waste to repeatedly collect in the same area.

Where the cause is uncertain, a CCTV drain survey can provide a direct view of the pipe and help establish whether the problem is simply an obstruction or damage to the drainage itself.

The condition of the pipe can then determine whether clearance, trenchless repair or full excavation and replacement is required.

Drain Keeps Blocking?

Could the Pipe Itself Have Collapsed?

KD Drainage provides CCTV investigation, trenchless repair and conventional pipe replacement for damaged drainage systems across Kent, London and the wider South East.

If a drain continues to fail after clearance, speak to our team about investigating whether there is an underlying structural defect.