--- title: New underground piping system to protect Melbourne’s water assets description: Viega's Geopress K, a new underground piping system, will be used by Melbourne Retail Water Agencies to manage and protect the city’s major water resources. --- [![Indigo by AWA logo](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/AWA-Website/Logos/Indigo_colour.png?height=24&name=Indigo_colour.png)](https://indigo.awa.asn.au/) [![Ozwater logo](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/AWA-Website/Logos/Ozwater.png?height=24&name=Ozwater.png)](https://www.ozwater.org/) [![Careers in Water logo](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/AWA-Website/Logos/Careers%20in%20Water_colour.png?height=24&name=Careers%20in%20Water_colour.png)](https://www.careersinwater.com.au/) [![NWW logo](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/AWA-Website/Logos/NWW.png?height=24&name=NWW.png)](https://www.nationalwaterweek.org/) - [Join ![user icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/awa-nav-user-icon.svg "user icon")](https://www.awa.asn.au/new-registration) - 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Dylan Thomas, Water Operations Manager at Programmed, which provides maintenance services to City West Water, said the system was a game-changing concept. “I see Geopress K as being a major player in the market and changing the way works are done,” he said. Manufactured from first-grade polymer materials and non-ferrous components, Geopress K is a more efficient and cost-effective method for SDR11 HDPE [pipes for potable water](https://ozwater.org/Watersource/technology/innovation/melbourne-water-creates-pipe-protection-and-air-monitoring-device/) and recycled water applications.  “The only options we had to connect poly pipes prior to Geopress K were either welding techniques or mechanical fittings, and both can be problematic,” Thomas said.  “Welding takes specialised equipment and is not maintenance-friendly (your only option is to cut out and replace damaged pieces) while mechanical systems don’t react well to movement, so when atmospheric conditions cause pipes to shrink and expand, the fittings can move and fail.”  With billions of litres of [water lost](https://ozwater.org/Watersource/business/assets-and-operations/addressing-non-revenue-water-losses/) each year due to ill-fitting, leaking pipes, Thomas said the Geopress K system would help save utilities money. ![](https://static.hsstatic.net/BlogImporterAssetsUI/ex/missing-image.png)“Any leak obviously has a water loss factor as well as a money factor to it, which is compounded when you have multiple leaks on the one system,” he said.  “So, any opportunity where you can avoid going back is definitely an advantage.”  ### Easy installation Viega Civil and Utilities Account Manager Glenn Lewindon said what makes the system different is its tapping valve, which combines a tapping band and isolation valve within the one device.  “There's nothing else like it in the market,” he said. “Live tapping of the main supply line takes only a few minutes and, due to the integrated miller for PE pipes, drilling can be carried out without having to use an external drilling machine or disconnecting water from the main line.”  The system’s high-strength polymer connectors feature internal sealing, which allows pipes with damaged surfaces to be permanently pressed without preparation. This means supply lines can be quickly and easily installed.  “These features make our connectors the perfect choice for harsh underground conditions,” Lewindon said. “The system also means no hot works, generator or pipe preparation is required. It offers the reliability of permanent-press connection technology with internal sealing that’s robust and extremely economical. Put simply, in our opinion, it’s the most reliable underground supply line solution.” [ Pipes ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/pipes) [ Water Infrastructure ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/water-infrastructure) [ Melbourne ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/melbourne) [ South East Water ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/south-east-water) [ Yarra Valley Water ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/yarra-valley-water) [ Assets & Operations ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/assets-and-operations) [ Water Pipe ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/water-pipe) [ Viega ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/viega) [ City West Water ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/city-west-water) [ Utilities ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/tag/utilities) Share [![email icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/icon-dark-sandstone-email.svg "email icon") ](mailto:?subject=New%20underground%20piping%20system%20to%20protect%20Melbourne’s%20water%20assets&body=Check%20out%20https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/business/assets-and-operations/new-underground-piping-system-to-protect-melbournes-water-assets) [![facebook-icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/icon-dark-sandstone-facebook.svg "facebook icon") ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/business/assets-and-operations/new-underground-piping-system-to-protect-melbournes-water-assets) [![LinkedIn icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/icon-dark-sandstone-linkedin.svg "LinkedIn icon") ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/business/assets-and-operations/new-underground-piping-system-to-protect-melbournes-water-assets) [![Twitter icon](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/icon-dark-sandstone-twitter.svg "Twitter icon") ](https://twitter.com/home?status=https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/business/assets-and-operations/new-underground-piping-system-to-protect-melbournes-water-assets) ## RELATED NEWS ### [ Melbourne Water reduces its load on Victorian power grid ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/business/assets-and-operations/melbourne-water-reduces-its-load-on-victorian-power-grid) Water Source Melbourne Water’s planned demand management activities are aiming to reduce pressure on the city’s power network during the summer… [ Read Full Paper ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/business/assets-and-operations/melbourne-water-reduces-its-load-on-victorian-power-grid) ### [ Does logging need to stop in Melbourne’s largest water catchment? ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/environment/natural-environment/does-logging-need-to-stop-in-melbournes-largest-water-catchment) Water Source Logging in Melbourne’s water catchments could reduce the city’s water supply by 35GL a year by 2050, according to a study from the… [ Read Full Paper ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/environment/natural-environment/does-logging-need-to-stop-in-melbournes-largest-water-catchment) [![](https://www.awa.asn.au/hs-fs/hubfs/GettyImages-1363608278.jpg?width=352&name=GettyImages-1363608278.jpg) ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/utilities-unite-for-melbournes-water-future) ### [ Utilities unite to plan for Melbourne’s water future ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/utilities-unite-for-melbournes-water-future) Cecilia Harris Despite being consistently ranked as one of the world’s most liveable cities, Melbourne is projected to face water security issues… [ Read Full Paper ](https://www.awa.asn.au/resources/latest-news/utilities-unite-for-melbournes-water-future) Advertising --- ### Subscribe to our newsletters Sign up to get the latest news and insights from us Advertising --- ![white arrow pointing upwards](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/website-assets-2021/icons/awa-white-arrow-up.svg) Top [![Footer-logo-02](https://www.awa.asn.au/hubfs/Footer-logo-02.svg) ](https://www.awa.asn.au/) The **Australian Water Association** acknowledges the Traditional Custodians across Australia, where we live, work and play, for their deep connection to our precious waters and land. 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