Pipeline And Infrastructure

Pipeline And Infrastructure
Steel-reinforced polyethylene pipe used for limited-space sewer and water main replacement

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Steel-reinforced polyethylene pipe used for limited-space sewer and water main replacement

Problem: Located in the suburbs of Fort Worth, Texas, the Lochwood Court residential housing community required replacing a water main and storm sewer system located between houses, where spacing is tight.  

Solution: Wade Trim Inc. specified that DuroMaxx steel-reinforced polyethylene from Contech Engineered Solutions be used, with concrete pipe as an alternate. The product is lightweight and its long 24-inch joints allow for a quicker installation of the required 378 LF. The high-performance 15 psi joints provide a watertight joint while the profile provides a small outer diameter, resulting in less trench excavation. The pipe can be installed utilizing small equipment. 

Result: Nearby homeowners were satisfied, as the installation was kept to a constrained site that avoided wrecking landscaping and encroaching upon surrounding lawns. “The product was delivered on time, easy to install and is functioning as designed,” says project engineer David Speicher of Wade Trim Inc. “The use of this product expedited our project construction time and made it much easier to work between two homes.” 800/338-1122; www.conteches.com


Deep-water outfall used to improve stormwater quality

Problem: The shoreline of North Myrtle Beach, S.C., was being negatively impacted by four outfalls that were not only an eyesore, but whose discharge led to beach erosion along with pollutants that, following rain events, created poor water quality in swimming areas, resulting in an increasing number of beach advisories.

Solution: The city decided to combine the existing outfalls into one 84-inch deep-water outfall that stretched 1,200 feet into the Atlantic Ocean. Due to pressure from above wave action and compact bedding, the 1,300-foot outfall required a rigid pressure pipeline. Hanson Pressure Pipe supplied 84-inch E-301 pipe in 20-foot lengths. Burial depths ranged from 6 to 7 feet under the ocean floor. Pipe bedding and backfill included 3 1/2 to 6 feet of bedding stone, topped with 1 1/2 feet of rip-rap stone and a top layer of 5 to 7 feet of armor stone.

Result: The outfall, along with implementation of best management practices, significantly improved stormwater quality. 972/262-3600; www.hansonpressurepipe.com.


Township eliminates cavitation in reservoir with single-rolling diaphragm control valve

Problem: Pittsfield Township, Mich., pumps water from a neighboring community to a storage tank that ranges between empty and 16 feet at full, resulting in a pressure drop anywhere between 7 to 70 psi. The existing plug valve was not able to handle this flow ratio and caused cavitation that destroyed two reducers.

Solution: They installed a single-rolling diaphragm actuated control valve with anticavitation (AC) trim from Singer Valve to eliminate cavitation damage without sacrificing other valves, changing processes or system dynamics. The AC control valve contains two heavy stainless steel sliding cages that maximize the full flow capacity. The first directs and contains the cavitation recovery, allowing it to dissipate, while the second allows further control to a level as low as atmospheric pressure downstream. The cages are engineered to meet the flow/pressure differential of the specific application.

Result: The valve operates quietly and smoothly without cavitation. “The Singer valve is a simple and efficient solution with minimal maintenance,” says Billy Weirich, Pittsfield Township utilities superintendent. The valve continues to consistently modulate the flow into the tank without any shutdown, creating consistent water flow. 604/594-5404; www.singervalve.com.


HDPE pipe used to replace long water main

Problem: Fast-growing Lyon Township in Michigan required new potable-water services. This extension line needed to cross under three wetland areas, a drainage crossing, and near several residential and commercial areas with little or no disruption.

Solution: The township installed 11,307 linear feet of 14-inch SDR 11 high-density polyethylene water main from WL Plastics Corp., along with gate wells and fire hydrants. The project was installed in a dedicated easement and within the right-of-ways. Most of the project was horizontally drilled with transitions to ductile iron through gate wells, hydrant outlets and gate valve connections.

Result: The piping provided a trouble- and leak-free system that resists corrosion and ground movements. It doesn’t promote biological growth, so tuberculation effects were nullified and maintenance costs were reduced. 682/831-2700; www.wlplastics.com.



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