Ice Pigging to Support Final Phase of Thames Water’s Greenwich Trunk Main

June 2026

SUEZ is set to support the commissioning of the final phase of Thames Water’s Greenwich Trunk Main using Ice Pigging, marking the first use of the technology at this scale within the Thames Water network.

The project forms part of a major infrastructure programme being delivered by Barhale and will see Ice Pigging used across pipework ranging from 350mm to 800mm in diameter. By using Ice Pigging rather than conventional flushing, the commissioning process is expected to deliver significant environmental, operational and financial benefits.

The approach is forecast to save approximately 1.8 million litres of water, while also reducing the number of excavation pits required from 25 to just six. This will help minimise disruption during the works and contribute to estimated savings of around £800,000.

Alongside these efficiencies, Ice Pigging will help teams commission the new infrastructure more quickly while supporting the long-term resilience of the water network for the communities it serves.

This latest project demonstrates how Ice Pigging can provide a practical, low-disruption and water-efficient alternative to traditional pipeline commissioning methods, even on large-diameter trunk mains.