Commercial CCTV Drain Survey for a Retail Park rennovation, Walton-on-Thames
We recently got a call to do a CCTV drainage survey in Walton-on-Thames at a retail park. The retail park was a real commercial centre and home to multiple retailers, coffee shops and some fast-food outlets. It was very busy and popular, especially at weekends.
This retail park was set to undergo a big renovation which included an extension of the parking spaces, refurbishment of some older buildings, and upgrade of the infrastructure to suit new tenants. The renovation was likely to change the site for the better, making it more attractive to retailers. This would also increase footfall.
Mark Howden, the development manager of the retail park, was overseeing the renovation. The renovation had to go smoothly so that there were no delays, budget overruns, or unforeseen complications for the retailers or customers. An key part of the renovation was to survey and ensure the cleanliness of the existing drainage system, which had been in place for many decades. The survey was key but had to be undertaken so as not to obstruct but the ongoing construction work nearby.
Mark was aware that renovation projects of this scale need a proper investigation and evaluation of any existing system like drainage. If the drainage pipes were broken or blocked, we are looking at costly hold-ups during building or worse, flooding or water damage after the new facilities are built. So he contacted Your Drain Experts because of our commercial drainage knowledge and expertise.
After working with our engineers on a smaller site previously, Mark had confidence our drain surveyors could identify any issues with the drainage on site beforehand. Due to some slow draining rain water in one corner of the park, Mark felt there could be issues that were not visible. He wanted to find out any potential issues prior to the commencement of construction.
We responded positively to Mark’s request and booked a CCTV drain survey for the next week. Our technicians explained that the CCTV drain survey would allow them to look at the entire drainage network below the retail park. With a high-resolution camera, we could examine every inch of the pipes. This would allow us to identify if there were any blockages, cracks, collapses, or any issues with the drainage system. The condition of the pipes could undermine the renovations either during the works or on completion.
The survey started at the crack of dawn in order to avoid disturbance to the retailers and customers. Our drain engineers equipped with our CCTV technology accessed the drainage system through various manholes around the retail park and started the inspection. As the camera went through the underground pipes, it transmitted live footage of the interior of the drainage system, which Mark was able to watch real-time on a monitor with the technicians.
The camera angles quickly revealed a few issues that required rectifying prior to the renovation starting work. In certain sections of the pipes, waste and silt had built up on the walls. These materials must have been accumulating for many years due to the heavy traffic of the retail park and the lack of maintenance.
However, we were more alarmed by the appearance of cracks and fractures in the older sections of the drain pipes. In some places, the pipes weren’t lined up anymore due to the ground moving over the years. So there was a gap with waste water leaking out into the grounds. The fractures and leaks were bad enough that they could result in major collapses, and could lead to flooding and damage of the new structure.
We often find that Drains in commercial buildings are frequently overlooked as management companies change hands. Drains are usually the last place to get a look but can turn out to be the most expensive.
Following our CCTV survey of the Surrey site, our drain technicians reviewed the footage with Mark and provided him with a detailed report outlining the drainage’s condition. They advised on a number of key actions to ensure the drainage would cope with the renovation.
To start, they advised a vital clearance of the full drainage system with high-pressure water jetting. This would dislodge the debris and silt that was blocking water flow. The next suggestion is to repair the damaged and misaligned pipes using a no-dig repair. By reinforcing the damaged sections and sealing the leaks, the pipes would be able to handle the surplus capacity without excavation work.
Mark found the inspection satisfactory and was pleased with the recommendations made by our team. Knowing how important it is to have a working drainage system before the renovation started, he gave the go-ahead for the repair and cleaning work.
Our drain engineers came back the following week to do the work. The drainage pipes were cleared of debris and silt build-up with high-pressure water jetting to restore the drain to full working order. We repaired the broken and misaligned sections of the pipe with our no-dig relining. After that the damaged pipes were fitted with a flexible liner which was inflated and hardened to create a watertight seal. The job was completed without digging up any earth at the retail park, keeping disruption to a minimum and the renovation works on schedule.
Once the repairs were complete, Mark was sent a comprehensive report from our engineers. This included before and after footage of the drainage system. The report stated that the drainage was now fully capable of coping with the extra demand once the retail park was renovated and enlarged. This was essential for the site’s new insurance requirements.
The renovation was back on track as drainage was no longer a problem. Mark and the team took the necessary action to ensure the retail park could be altered without risk of drainage issues affecting the new development.
Mark reflected: “The renovation of our retail park in Walton-on-Thames was a big job, and we couldn’t afford a surprise drainage problem that might hold things up on site. Your Drain Experts came in and conducted a thorough CCTV inspection that revealed some serious issues we didn’t even know existed. They quickly and efficiently cleaned the system and fixed the damaged pipes, allowing the renovation to proceed without further issues. A huge thanks to the team, who solved our drainage issues ahead of our renovations.”