What the Heck is Ice Pigging?

Traditional “pigging” involves sending a mechanical device — or pig — down a pipe to clean or inspect it. Its descendant, ice pigging, substitutes abrasive ice brine slurry for the mechanical pig, allowing it to scour the interiors of water and sewer pipes.The technique was developed in England by Professor Joe Quarini of the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Bristol, to clean pipes in the food processing industry. From there, the process was adapted for water mains at Bristol Water, the utility serving the city of Bristol.Ice pigging was ultimately patented and is offered in North America by