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Conventional lighting keeps failing in water tunnels, dam walls and sewage systems. MineGlow’s IP67-rated LED strip lighting systems have steadily been replacing these across UK & Australian water utilities (dams, reservoir, tunnel & sewerage) sites over the last 5 years, resulting in near zero maintenance.
Water tunnels, dam walls, hydro plants and sewage systems share one thing in common: they are wet, confined, and often impossible to access without specialist equipment. When conventional lighting fails in these environments, it does not just go dark. It creates a costly, time-consuming and often dangerous shutdown process.
For instance in the UK, replacing a single failed light in a water tunnel typically requires a dive team on standby, in the event of an emergency. That mandatory standby comes with a hard cost that adds up fast.
Per day to keep a dive team on standby in the UK when conventional lighting needs replacement in a water tunnel. MineGlow’s 10-year lifespan and parallel circuit design means this cost becomes an exceptional event, not routine. The cost savings alone pay for the cost of the LED Strip lighting.
Standard fittings corrode and degrade rapidly in high-humidity, wet-surface environments typical of water tunnels and pump stations. Most conventional fittings are not designed for permanent wet underground conditions.
Traditional single-unit fixtures create complete blackouts when one component fails. In an active water tunnel or hydro facility, a single dark zone is a safety incident waiting to happen.
Many water infrastructure assets require confined space entry, specialist respiratory equipment, or full operational shutdown to access the lighting for replacement. Thus every replacement is a planned event, not a simple change-out.
Sewerage tunnels, digester buildings and treatment plant areas can carry methane and hydrogen sulphide. Standard lighting in these environments is not just unreliable, it is a compliance and explosion risk.
Using our Standard,Long Range & Explosion Proof Lighting:
Inspection and maintenance tunnels present the most demanding conditions for lighting: permanent moisture, limited access, and zero tolerance for failure. MineGlow strip lighting runs up to 400m between power sources, eliminating many of the power infrastructure installation complexities, typical in long water tunnels.
Inspection galleries and access corridors within dam walls require robust, long-life lighting that survives years without maintenance access. MineGlow’s 10-year operational lifespan and parallel circuit design means an individual failure within a section does cause the entire light strip to fail.
Hydroelectric facilities combine high-voltage electrical infrastructure with wet environments. Both the access tunnels and plant areas themselves require lighting rated for moisture and able to perform reliably around sensitive electrical equipment to improve safety & productivity.
Raw water transfer and reservoir tunnels operate in permanently dark, high-humidity conditions. MineGlow provides shadow-free, glare-free illumination along the full tunnel length, enabling inspection teams to work safely and efficiently without dark spots.
Raw water transfer and reservoir tunnels operate in permanently dark, high-humidity conditions. MineGlow provides shadow-free, glare-free illumination along the full tunnel length, enabling inspection teams to work safely and efficiently without dark spots.
Substations and control rooms serving water infrastructure need consistent, high-quality illumination for operators working with complex instrumentation. MineGlow’s 6500k (daylight-equivalent) output with a CRI of over 80 supports precise colour recognition. This reduces operator fatigue.
Sewerage tunnels and treatment plant structures can contain methane gas and hydrogen sulphide vapour, classified as Gas Zone 1 or Zone 2. MineGlow’s SafeGlo EX range is the world’s first IECEx and ATEX certified LED strip light, specifically engineered to operate safely in these conditions.
MineGlow’s, x-Glo LED strip lighting, was not adapted from a decorative or commercial product range. It is engineered from the ground up for permanent deployment in harsh, wet, confined industrial environments. Water utilities share almost identical demands with the mining and tunneling environments, which MineGlow has served since 2014.
The result is a lighting system that addresses the three core problems water utility teams face: frequent conventional light failures, costly and complex access for replacement, and the need for explosion-safe options in certain asset types.
If a 10cm section of strip fails, only that section goes dark. The remaining run continues operating. A single conventional fitting failure shuts down that entire zone.
For inspection and maintenance work, strips can be deployed quickly using magnetic hooks eliminating the need for temporary fixings to be installed. Instant shadow & glare free coverage across the entire work area.
The 15mm profile of MineGlow strip lighting sits close to any surface. In confined water tunnels, the low profile significantly reduces the chance of accidental impact damage from equipment.
| Specification | Performance |
|---|---|
| Ingress protection | IP67 rated |
| Operational lifespan | 50,000+ hours (10+ years) |
| Manufacturer warranty | 5 years |
| Maximum continuous run | Up to 400m between power supplies |
| Voltage options | 24V, 36V, 48V |
| Light spread angle | 180 degrees |
| Colour rendering index | CRI 80+ |
| Kelvin | 6500k |
| Circuit design | Parallel - section failure does not disable full run |
| Explosion-proof option | IECEx + ATEX certified SafeGlo EX range |
| Certifications | CE, SABS, CULUS, C-Tick, IECEx, ATEX |
Sewerage tunnels, pump stations and sludge treatment areas can contain methane gas and hydrogen sulphide vapour. Under IECEx/ATEX classification these spaces are typically Gas Zone 1 or Zone 2, and standard LED lighting including products marketed as industrial grade, is not certified for use in them. Deploying uncertified equipment is a compliance breach and a genuine explosion risk. MineGlow is the only provider in Australia with an IECEx and ATEX certified LED strip light solution independently tested for gas and dust hazardous areas.
Common Hazardous Zones in Water Utilities
Active sewer tunnels where methane accumulation is likely. Requires IECEx certified explosion-proof lighting. MineGlow’s SafeGlo EX range is certified for Zone 1 deployment.
Areas where explosive atmospheres are unlikely in normal operation but could arise in abnormal conditions. Both Zone 1 and Zone 2 classified areas require IECEx certified equipment.
Biogas extraction and sludge management areas may be classified as dust zones 21 or 22. MineGlow’s SafeGlo range is certified for Dust Zone 21 and 22 environments.
Three product families cover the full range of water utility environments, from standard wet infrastructure through to IECEx classified hazardous zones.
The primary choice for short run water tunnels, dam walls, hydro plant access tunnels, control rooms, freshwater infrastructure & temporary maintenance lighting. IP67 rated and available in PVC or silicone for maximum moisture resistance.
Voltage: 24V / 36V
Max run: Up to 90m per run
IP rating: IP67
Best for: Smaller water tunnels, dam walls, hydro plants. Temporary lighting.
For long water transfer tunnels, dam walls, reservoir aqueducts and deep infrastructure where distance between power sources is a constraint. Up to 400m using only 2 power supplies — the longest available on the market. (PVC or Silicone Options Available)
Voltage: 48V
Max run: Up to 400m
IP rating: IP67
Best for: Long water tunnels and aqueducts
The only IECEx and ATEX certified LED strip light for classified gas and dust zones. Essential for sewerage tunnels, wet wells, sludge digesters and any other water utility asset, classified as a hazardous zone.
Certification: IECEx + ATEX
Zones: Gas Zone 1, 2 / Dust Zone 21, 22
Voltage: 24V / 36V / 48V
Best for: Sewerage systems, pump stations, digesters
MineGlow has been deploying LED strip lighting in water utility environments across the UK and Australia for over five years. The same core product range that has operated continuously in underground coal mines and major civil tunnels is now working equally well in dam walls, water tunnels and hydro plants.
“We selected MineGlow over conventional lighting because the LED strip was IP67 rated and had been proven in mining and tunnel environments with similar conditions to our water infrastructure. After five years in service across multiple assets, we have not needed to replace a single run.”
— Water Utility Operator, Australia
Yes. MineGlow’s LED strip lights can be deployed temporarily using magnetic hooks, allowing inspection and maintenance teams to install them quickly without permanent fixings and remove them when the work is complete. The system provides proper shadow-free lighting across the full work area, unlike handheld torches which create limited pools of light and dangerous shadow zones.
MineGlow strip lights are wired in parallel, not series. If a section of the strip is damaged, only that segment stops producing light. The remainder of the run continues operating at full brightness. The damaged section can be cut out and a repair connector installed on site without having to replace the entire strip.
Sewerage tunnels and pump stations can be classified as Gas Zone 1 or Zone 2 environments under IECEx/ATEX. Standard LED lighting is not certified for use in these zones. Our SafeGlo EX range is the world’s first IECEx and ATEX certified LED strip light and is specifically approved for Gas Zone 1 and Zone 2, and Dust Zone 21 and 22 environments. Used extensively in mining, oil & gas facilities for over 5 years!
The MineGlow strip light is IP67 rated and is FULLY encapsulated in a silicone or PVC extrusion to resist moisture ingress, corrosion, chemicals and humidity over long periods. MineGlow provides a 5-year manufacturer’s warranty that specifically covers harsh environments, and is designed for continuous 24/7 operation, over 10 years.
Yes. MineGlow’s LED light strip has two options:
Our Standard Range can be cut to size at 10-15cm intervals, to provide the exact length of lighting required and comes with standard connector kits. This can all be done on site.
The Ultra Long Range Tunnel series is ordered in pre-cut lengths of 5, 10 and 20 metres, injection moulded and with quick connectors on each end. This enables you to quickly join these pre-cut lengths together to any length required. To energise the 48V Tunnel light strip, power needs to be injected into it at regular intervals and can span up to 400m between power supplies. Therefore requiring less power infrastructure.
Yes. MineGlow’s technical team works directly with water utility engineers and procurement teams to specify the correct lighting system, based on the asset type. This typically includes a light study to ensure the correct level of lighting is provided into the area. Contact us with your project details and we will provide a recommended solution.
Tell us about your project and we will recommend the right product, specify the correct run lengths, and connect you with our installation support team in Australia or the UK.