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HR Wallingford has produced a document setting out the general principles
that should be considered when repairing or rehabilitating sewers.  This
work supports the European Standard on Drain and sewer systems outside
buildings – Part 5: Rehabilitation (EN752-5) and has involved specialists
from 10 organisations across 5 European countries.

At present there is a range of national methods for measuring the
structural, environmental and hydraulic performance of drain and sewerage
systems.  Individual countries often have their own rehabilitation
criteria, but there was a need for generic guidance providing best practice
advice that can be used across Europe.  This should be flexible and take
account of local issues.  The new document allows users to select the most
appropriate criteria, applicable to their own country.

The structure of the new document is closely related to that of EN 752-5.
In each case the rehabilitation procedure is split into four phases:
- initial planning
- diagnostic study
- development of solutions and
 -implementation/monitoring.

The new guidelines cover current methods for measuring the structural,
hydraulic and environmental performance of sewers.  They look at assessing
and prioritising the need for rehabilitation and the section on ‘developing
solutions’ has been expanded to include a method for finding the most cost-
effective solutions for rehabilitating sewers.  Standards for testing
rehabilitated networks and certifying renovation products are also
addressed.  In each section of the new guide, users are referred to
relevant parts of EN 752-5.

It should be stressed that the Guidelines set out a generic approach that
can be modified according to national needs.  They are not intended to
replace existing national procedures, but will be particularly valuable in
countries where there is currently no national procedure.  They should also
help to achieve convergence of rehabilitation practices across Europe in
the longer term.  A final draft version of the entire guide can be viewed
at www.hi.ihe.nl/srguide.  CD and paper versions of the document are
scheduled for April 2002.