SIPP reduces time, money and disruption in city
Problem: The city of Ringgold, Georgia’s water plant produces approximately 1 mgd, supplying 1,400 households through a distribution system with 28 miles of mainline. When an aging main waterline ruptured, the city sought to resolve the issue quickly and with as little disruption as possible, since this line accounted for approximately one quarter of the city’s daily water production. The main runs under the interstate, however, making traditional repair or replacement methods difficult, time consuming and disruptive. Options included pipe boring versus digging a trench, but that would have been extremely expensive and taken approximately three months to complete.
Solution: City officials had learned about USG Water Solutions’ Spray-in-Place Pipe (SIPP) Rehabilitation System, and chose it to address this urgent repair. SIPP is an efficient and long-lasting pipe rehabilitation solution that scrubs underground pipes clean and then uses a computer-controlled robotic spray to apply an internal epoxy pipe lining on site. Once cured, the epoxy lining seals the pipe, preventing leaks and water contamination, extending the pipe’s service life, minimizing future maintenance costs, and increasing the flow capacity for greater system efficiency. SIPP eliminates major road or sidewalk tear-ups, and works on pipes of different materials and sizes from 4 to 36 inches in diameter, both vertical and horizontal. It can yield estimated cost savings of around 20 to 30% compared to direct replacement.
Result: For Ringgold, repair and rehab of approximately 600 linear feet of 12-inch main took only a week. 855-526-4413; www.usgwater.com
Unique pipeline protection in mountainous area
Problem: Measures to prevent condensation on a water pipeline exterior led to conditions adverse to application and curing of any ordinary epoxy primer. The Big Creek Pipeline courses through the western Sierra Nevada mountains, delivering water to two pump houses from Shaver and Huntington lakes. A recoat of 8 miles of the pipeline exterior began in August 2023. Because the pipeline is a vital piece of California’s water supply program, owner Southern California Edison needed to keep it operating during the project. Summer days in the Sierras are hot. Water flowing through the pipeline is cool. The contractor eliminated condensation by erecting climate-controlled containment tents along pipeline sections. Chillers pumped cold air into the tents to keep the pipeline surface between 49 and 50 degrees F. That’s too cool for ordinary epoxy primers to cure.
Solution: The Carboline coating system ultimately chosen for the project included Carboguard 890 LT, a versatile epoxy mastic containing catalyzing additives that support curing down to 40 degrees F. The topcoat, Carbothane 133 VOC, cures down to 35 degrees F. It also boasts excellent abrasion resistance, an important defense against wind-driven sand during the dry season.
Result: Application of the coating system has progressed without issue. The coating cures as intended despite the cold conditions. Painting paused for winter last November and resumes this spring. 800-848-4645; www.carboline.com
Resin lining a fit for restaurant drainline
Problem: After remodeling an oyster bar restaurant in North Port, Florida, a 40-foot, 3-inch drainline running under the kitchen and dining hall was found to have almost completely deteriorated. Instead of digging up the floor, the owners called The Plumber’s Plumber to solve the issue. To add to the challenge, there was only one access point for the line.
Solution: After inspecting the line, the company determined it was suitable for a CIPP repair. The municipality required the repair to meet Florida Building Code, so the team reached out to APEX CIPP in Sarasota for assistance. Craig Underwood confirmed that a CIPP repair met FL Building Code, so they proceeded. Due to the repair being in-building and with a bend in the pipe, the company chose to use BRAWOLINER along with BRAWO UVPox from BRAWO SYSTEMS USA. This styrene-free, epoxy-based light-cured resin allowed them to prewet the liner in the shop, transport it to the job site, and install and cure it within an hour using the BRAWO Pico system.
Result: The owners were thrilled that the plumber resolved the issue quickly and efficiently without needing any further remodeling. 240-796-5007; www.brawosystems-usa.com
Pipe rehab leads to significant cost savings for university
Problem: At the University of Pennsylvania, a seven-story residence hall required a complete pipe system overhaul within two months. The original cast iron roof drains and sewer pipes were clogged with decades of debris, calcium deposits and tuberculation. Progressive Pipeline Management recommended inspections, cleaning, brush-in-place pipe coating and UV CIPP to create seamless, structurally sound pipes. Compared to traditional replacement methods, the coatings offered faster solutions with minimal disruption to the historic building’s infrastructure.
Solution: Robotic CCTV inspections revealed extensive blockages, cracks and over 30 feet of obstructions in some sections. A multi-stage cleaning process with smart sweepers, 3D chain knockers, and cyclones cleared the pipes. The brushed coating used three applications of epoxy to create a corrosion and abrasion-resistant protective barrier. Multiple challenges were overcome including unexpected pipe configurations such as back-to-back 90-degree bends, cemented access points, and long stretches without access. Beneath the slab, rock-hard debris blocked more than one-third of the pipes, and a 4-foot sewer section was missing. Spot repairs and a 6-foot UV CIPP liner addressed these issues before the full UV CIPP installation.
Result: The combination of the brushed coating process and UV CIPP significantly improved the piping system’s structural integrity, providing protection that extended the system’s life by up to 50 years. This was achieved at a fraction of the cost and time compared to full pipe replacement. 855-245-6344; www.progressivepipe.com
City streamlines pipeline inspections with software platform
Problem: The city of Burlingame, California, faced challenges managing pipeline inspections using outdated, manual processes. Printouts, DVDs and multistep workflows led to inefficiencies accessing critical inspection data. There was limited ability to track costs or streamline communication among teams and contractors, creating bottlenecks in planning and decision-making.
Solution: To address these challenges, the city implemented an integrated solution combining ITpipes and Cartegraph. This web-based platform enabled seamless data sharing, digital workflows and real-time access to inspection information. Inspectors logged costs directly into the system, and asset-specific URLs provided instant access to inspection details. Custom contractor logins ensured secure access, enabling accurate bid preparation. “It really has taken us a long way from those printouts and DVDs — all really seamless, all digital, all right here on the screen,” says Michael Heathcote, Burlingame’s deputy director of Public Works. “It doesn’t matter where you’re at; it’s all viewable being that it’s all web-based.”
Result: The integration revolutionized Burlingame’s inspections, enabling significant efficiency gains. Automated workflows eliminated redundancy, while digital access enhanced collaboration and data accuracy. Inspection costs were transparently tracked, and contractors independently reviewed records to prepare bids. “The nice piece is with having it all linked together, the inspection costs are also all tracked,” says Heathcote. 505-355-6829; www.itpipes.com
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