The William Street Watermain Renewal Project will replace water pipes that date back to 1857 and were some of the first water mains laid underneath the city.

City West Water contracted Scarriff Pipelines to undertake the work, with trenchless works sub-contracted to Harris Civil. Pipe ramming was chosen as the preferred method because it enabled construction along the existing pipe alignment and fit the other necessary requirements.

The project involves the replacement of two watermains: a 600 mm watermain along William Street and Howard Street between Queensbridge Street and Queensberry Street; and a 300 mm water main along William Street between Flinders Street and Victoria Street. The works will see watermains replaced in stages along the entire length of William Street from Flinders Street to Howard Street near the Queen Victoria Market.

With the project’s halfway mark now passed, and works crews nearing completion at the Queensberry Street end, more than 240 lengths of steel pipe have been laid. Works crews are planning relocate to the Flinders Street end by April 2012.

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City West Water Managing Director Anne Barker said “This project is one of the largest urban water main renewal projects ever undertaken in the CBD, and while there have been some temporary impacts on the area, it’s imperative that the mains are replaced.”

The William Street project is the culmination of years of detailed planning and design, with the added the complexity of the works being carried out along a busy CBD thoroughfare.

Ms Barker said the project is just part of an asset management plan to invest $A100 million dollars over five years in water infrastructure replacement across inner and western areas of Melbourne.

Given the age and historical significance of the old watermains, a small section of the wrought iron pipe will be kept for display purposes in the future.