This year, Tallinna Vesi intends to carry out the pipeline work with as little disruption as possible – 25% of the works will be done using the trenchless methods, while the rest will be mostly undertaken jointly with partners as part of larger construction projects.
“Summer is the main season when we can carry out construction work, and we intend to do it so as to have as little impact as possible on the functioning of the city,” Marti Vaksmann, Head of Network Design and Construction at Tallinna Vesi, explained. “To this end, we will be using innovative and environmentally friendly trenchless methods, and we will also work together with the City of Tallinn and other partners to get our work done as part of any major construction or development that is already underway,” he said.
Tallinna Vesi operates nearly 3,000 km of pipelines in Tallinn, Saue and Maardu. Pipeline works are necessary both to ensure the quality of water services and to ensure efficient wastewater drainage. In order to adapt to climate change, the company is also developing an adequate separate storm water drainage system.
This summer, 25% of the pipeline work will be carried out using innovative trenchless or no-dig technology, which means that the work will be done without extensive excavation. With this technology, the new pipe is either fitted inside the old pipe or the pipeline is installed by drilling a tunnel between two trenches. Examples include the Tondiloo Park, Masina Street, Järvevana Road, Õismäe Road and the Nõlvaku-Männimetsa collector. In the planning and execution of the works, Tallinna Vesi will work closely with the City of Tallinn and other partners, such as Utilitas Tallinn AS, to carry out as much work as possible at the same time and with as little disruption to the functioning of the city and traffic as possible.
According to Mr Vaksmann, the average lifespan of pipes is between 40 and 50 years, so they need to be rehabilitated on an ongoing basis. A strategy for the renovation of pipelines, developed in cooperation with Tallinn University of Technology, helps to optimise investment planning. “Through these investments, we will reduce the number of customers affected by water disruptions, the number of blockages and the environmental impact. Our activities are targeted at preventing leaks and breakdowns,” said Vaksmann.
Alongside the provision of water supply and the normal functioning of wastewater systems, an important new direction is the development of a separate sewerage system in urban areas. In a separate system, wastewater is treated in a wastewater treatment plant, while stormwater is discharged back into the environment. “The separate system is designed to meet the challenges of today’s climate change and the increasing risk of flooding,” Vaksmann explained. He added that the development of a separate stormwater drainage system will allow to free up the resources at the wastewater treatment plant, support the development of the capital city and keep the Baltic Sea clean.
For an overview of the locations of major pipeline works in Tallinn, see the map at: Tallinna Vee tööd (suvi 2024) – Google My Maps.
AS Tallinna Vesi is the largest water utility in Estonia, providing services to more than 24,900 private customers and businesses and 470,000 end consumers in Tallinn and its surrounding municipalities. Tallinna Vesi is listed on the main list of the Nasdaq Tallinn Stock Exchange. The largest shareholdings in the company are held by the City of Tallinn (55.06%) and the energy group Utilitas (20.36%). 24.58% of the company’s shares are freely floating on the Nasdaq Tallinn Stock Exchange.