The most important economic and ecological advantages of micro-tunnelling

Microtunnelling takes place beneath existing service lines. The safeguarding or diversion of these is either minimal or unnecessary and road surfaces aren’t damaged.

Ability to construct sewers without problems and in a cost-effective manner near buildings or historic areas since settlement of the soil is avoided and expensive trench sheeting is not required.

The amount of soil to be excavated, transported and dumped is restricted to the volume of the sewer line. There are important cost advantages in contaminated soils, in water catchment areas, in soils with a high water table and weak soils.

Since the greater part of the work of laying a sewer takes place underground and as the space required at ground level is small, life and commerce can go on virtually undisturbed. Noise, dirt and smell are minimised.

As a rule traffic can continue to flow when micro tunnelling is being employed since the site facilities in the region of the start shaft can be kept compact and target and intermedi te shafts can be covered after construction.

Microtunnelling will not harm existing vegetation. Roots in the line of the sewer are only cut away in the region of the cross-section of the cutter head. In addition measures to lower the level of the ground water are not needed provided suitable construction techniques are employed.