Using trenchless methods to approach projects that might typically rely on open-cut excavation can be a great way to save time and money in many cases. I recently wrote an article for the Mid Atlantic Journal of Trenchless Technology describing one of these projects, where using cured-in-place pipe turned out to have a number of benefits for one New England community. I wanted to share a brief summary of the article with our blog readers, and to spread the word for those who use this kind of information in their daily work to read the full article in the MAJTT.
Holistic approach provides efficient, affordable solution
When a community of about 30,000 in the Northeast began experiencing frequent sewer overflows and backups during wet weather events, it was obvious that there would need to be sewer upgrades. Complicating the matter, though, was that the interceptor that would need to be upgraded was situated near a river that frequently floods, a busy interstate, and a commuter railway carrying thousands of passengers per day. The town knew that a traditional open-cut excavation approach was likely going to be out of the question, as it would significantly disrupt the operations of the railway and highway nearby, so they needed a different solution.
We worked with the town on developing alternatives that would allow us to address the overflow and backup challenges, but this was difficult in and of itself, as a rootball was limiting the pipe to less than 25% hydraulic capacity, blocking over 70 linear feet of pipe from being inspected. This made it impossible to surmise if there were any issues in those 70 linear feet to be addressed. Luckily, it turned out to just be mostly rootball, which was taken care of through a combination of mechanical cutting and high-pressure water jetting.
The solution the town settled on was using cured-in-place pipe (CIPP), which effectively repaired the pipe without having to dig a single trench. Not only was this method non-invasive enough that there was minimal disruption to interstate traffic and railway transport, but it was also able to be conducted quickly, which was crucial for the town, as they needed a solution before the next significant wet weather event occurred. Last but not least, without trenches to be dug and a lower likelihood of infiltration to increase flow, the project was extremely cost-effective for the town.
If you’d like to learn more about how this approach could benefit your community, feel free to reach out to me at jdemello@woodardcurran.com.
