Water main flushing with high pressure jetting

A method for cleaning and flushing a section of a water supply system, the section including at least one water main, a first hydrant, a second hydrant, and at least one valve, the method comprising:

• a) connecting a first pig launch and recovery apparatus to the first hydrant included in the water supply system;
• b) connecting a second pig launch and recovery apparatus to the second hydrant included in the water supply system;
• c) connecting a recirculating unit to the first pig launch and recovery apparatus and the second pig launch and recovery apparatus to connect to the section of the water supply system between a first point and a second point thereby defining a circuit, wherein the recirculating unit includes at least one filter unit and at least one pump unit generating a circulating flow of water in a first flow direction from the first pig launch and recovery apparatus to the second pig launch and recovery apparatus, and wherein the section remains under continuous water supply system pressure throughout the cleaning and flushing;
• d) loading a jetting unit into the second pig launch and recovery apparatus while the section remains under continuous water supply system pressure, wherein the jetting unit includes a jetting head and a jetting hose;
• and
• e) providing a high pressure fluid to the jetting unit to drive the jetting unit in a second flow direction from the second pig launch and recovery apparatus toward the first pig launch and recovery apparatus while the at least one pump unit is generating the circulating flow of water in the first flow direction, wherein the second flow direction is opposite of the first flow direction,
• wherein the high pressure fluid is emitted as a plurality of water jets from the jetting head to assist removal of material from an inner surface of at least a portion of the section.