Yorkshire Water is trialling a new type of trenchless technology, in a bid to meet its target of ‘zero evacuations’ by 2010.

The utility company used platelet technology for the first time last week, to repair a leaking pipe from the inside. The technology works by inserting platelets into a water pipe through points on the network to seal the leak from the inside, without the need to interrupt customers’ supplies or dig up the road.

Conceived by Brinker Technology for use in the oil and gas industries, the new concept has been developed in partnership with Yorkshire Water for use on the water supply network.

Originating from the medical concept of platelets in the human bloodstream, the utility company believes the technology could ‘revolutionise the way leaks are repaired.’ Simon Barnes, head of innovation at Yorkshire Water, said: ‘We had already set a target of achieving zero interruptions and zero evacuations in the highway by 2010, which meant we were on the look-out for technology which would help us achieve this.

‘We are trialling the technology now to understand its potential to repair different types of bursts.’