Water leaks, as many as five per week, made life hectic for the Public Works crews in Big Spring, Texas. They also consumed too much of the city’s small budget. Most repairs or replacements of the 50- to 75-year-old cast-iron pipes were open-cut. Contractors used pipe bursting or CIPP lining only when traffic disruption was an issue.The department’s in-house construction replacement program began in 1993. “Our goal was to replace at least five miles of pipeline per year,” says Todd Darden, Public Works director and assistant city manager. “We’ve seen a reduction in leaks from 325 in 1993 to 165
