The Aare Valley Pipeline 3 is a central component of the Bern region's water supply, which requires around 20 million cubic meters of drinking water every year. This water is mainly obtained from groundwater resources in the Aare Valley. To ensure security of supply and maximize the use of groundwater, a new gravity pipeline is being built between Kiesen and Belpau. This Aare valley pipeline is a decisive step towards ensuring redundancy in the network and will enable the entire licensed volume of drinking water to be transported to Bern. Our pipeline specialists at Josef Muff AG are ideal for such projects.
Precision in figures
The large-scale project comprises a 7.5-kilometre-long gravity pipeline, 3 kilometers of which is a double pipeline - a challenging implementation that requires the utmost precision. Each pipe segment weighs around four tons, which not only highlights the logistical requirements, but also the complexity of the installation.
Our partners MobilKran AG are essential players in transportation and installation. Together with our ten-strong team and head fitter Hans Rupp, we ensure that every cable is laid efficiently, safely and precisely.
Innovation for longevity
One feature of this project is the custom-made dummies for the inspection chambers, which were manufactured in our workshop in Sarmensdorf. They facilitate the installation of the feed-through pipes that later run through these shafts. The inspection chambers themselves play a central role in the maintenance and long-term operational safety of the pipeline.
Nature as an opponent for optimal working conditions
Laying the gravity sewer line requires flexible and forward-looking construction planning. The reason? The River Aare runs just a few meters away, so it is often necessary to dig down to the groundwater level. This poses a major challenge, particularly in snowy winters, wet transitional phases and during the snowmelt in summer - unfavorable conditions for precise welding work.
In addition, laying the drinking water pipe involves special requirements: the pipes with internal cement must be repaired with cement from the inside at the joints after welding, a job that requires not only the highest precision but also a high degree of space resistance.
Step by step to the new management: work process on site
The pipe segments are first stored on site before being brought into position with millimeter precision using MobilKran AG. This is followed by a precise process:
Precise assembly and welding
Corrosion protection with PE/butyl tapes
Sheathing with concrete silt tapes for mechanical protection of the insulation
Milestone for the region
The construction work will take place in several stages. The first phase will run from September 2024 to September 2025. Parallel to the new ATL3, the Aare Valley Pipeline 1 between Wichtrach and Kiesen will be rerouted to create space for a sustainable renaturation project. This merger and the commissioning of this section are a key milestone.
This project combines state-of-the-art infrastructure with environmentally conscious thinking - a project that not only strengthens the region, but also contributes to a sustainable water supply in the long term.
