Village stops severe manhole infiltration with grout and lining products
Problem: The village of Hamler, Ohio, faced severe hydrogen sulfide corrosion and groundwater infiltration, allowing 168,000 gpd to flood the lagoon system during rain events. This overwhelmed the system, risking EPA compliance violations and costly repairs. Seeking a durable, cost-effective solution, Hamler partnered with Advanced Rehabilitation Technology, an OBIC-certified installer, to restore 25 of its 100 manholes using OBIC’s high-performance lining solutions.
Solution: The project was executed in increments of 10 manholes, enabling real-time monitoring. ART uncovered severe hydrogen sulfide corrosion, water intrusion around pipes, and major groundwater infiltration. To combat this, ART applied 2210 Leak Stop Grout, effectively sealing high-pressure leaks — even those shooting water across the manhole. Once leaks were stopped, the Armor multilayer system was installed, creating a seamless, long-lasting protective barrier.
Result: Within a week of completing the first 10 manholes, daily infiltration decreased by 30,000 gallons. By project’s end, rain-event infiltration dropped from 168,000 to 75,000 gpd. Reduced excess water allowed the lagoon system to function properly, preventing an expensive full replacement. 866-636-4854; www.obicproducts.com
Turnbluckle risers make raising valve boxes easy
Problem: Newport News, with a population of about 183,000, is Virginia’s fifth most populous city. The city’s Water Distribution Operations Coordinator Jim LeVasseur says, “We have a complex water distribution infrastructure that delivers water to five districts and includes 1,700 miles of pipe, 11,000 fire hydrants and three water treatment plants.” That’s the big pieces, common to any municipal water system. “The problem is, when we raised streets with a paving lift, we didn’t have a good way to raise our valve boxes to grade,” LeVasseur explains. “We used cast iron risers for a while, but they would rattle loose, even if they were epoxied, leaving open holes. And 16-inch holes are a real problem for cars, and our system.”
Solution: In 2006, Newport News began using a custom riser solution that is much faster than raising valve boxes by traditional methods, cost-effective and absolutely secure. As valve maintenance specialist Michael Lawson says of the custom risers, “Once you tighten the turnbuckle, they do not fail.” The secret is the “pivoted turnbuckle”; American Highway Products manhole risers are an open, flexible ring of high-quality, galvanized steel with a turnbuckle that can be expanded or contracted with a screwdriver to fit snugly into original utility rims.
Result: The adjustable risers make it possible to raise dozens of manholes in a day, all while avoiding extensive traffic closures. The city keeps about 100 of the risers on hand at all times, in a couple of different thicknesses, and reorders as needed. It may have taken Newport News a while to make a commitment to a new infrastructure solution, but now that they have, they are making up for a lot of lost time and making their system safer and more efficient. 888-272-2397; www.ahp1.com
Failed coating causing major problems for a water reclamation facility
Problem: The city of Durango, Colorado, opened the newly reconstructed Santa Rita Water Reclamation Facility in 2019. The headworks, two clarifiers, two grit chambers and a digester were all coated for corrosion protection. Within three years the coating had failed in all those structures, causing multiple issues to the daily operation of the facility.
Solution: Without the ability to shut the entire facility down, the city put together a three-year plan to address and redo the coating in the structures with SpectraShield Liner Systems. Beginning in 2023, Phase 1 addressed the headworks fine-screen channels and one of the clarifiers. In 2024 Phase 2 addressed the second clarifier and one of the grit chambers. Phase 3, to take place in the summer of 2025, will address the remaining grit chamber and digester. Downtime was a critical issue. In each of the first two phases, the work completed by SpectraShield licensee Concrete Conservation was completed with minimum downtime and disruption to the facility, and the same is anticipated for the 2025 project.
Result: By the end of summer 2025, all six structures totaling over 15,000 square feet will have had the failed coating removed and repaired with the installation of the SpectraShield Liner System. 800-284-2030; www.spectrashield.com
Adjustment rings lead to long-lasting repairs
Problem: Infiltration Solutions, based in Palatine, Illinois, prioritizes high-quality, long-lasting repairs. They faced challenges with traditional adjustment materials that deteriorated due to freeze-thaw cycles and sought a superior solution for sewer manhole and catch basin adjustment repair.
Solution: Infiltration Solutions partnered with Ladtech, a manufacturer of adjustment rings designed to overcome the limitations of traditional materials. They adopted Ladtech rings, which feature an interlocking inner lip, effectively eliminating inflow and infiltration and creating a sealed adjustment system.
Result: By using Ladtech rings, Infiltration Solutions achieved a “set it and forget it” solution. The design of the Ladtech rings ensures the longevity and structural integrity of the repair, addressing the original problem of deterioration due to freeze-thaw cycles and providing a superior, long-lasting product for their customers. 877-235-7464; www.ladtech.com
City employs manhole asset management program
Problem: Tolleson, Arizona, a city with a significant industrial wastewater load, faces substantial wear and tear on its wastewater collection system. Hydrogen sulfide corrosion has led to severe degradation of manholes and pipes, exacerbated by the system’s aging infrastructure. Some manholes had been lined over the years, but these linings were also deteriorating, requiring replacement. Tolleson needed an efficient method to assess the condition of its manholes and establish a structured rehabilitation plan.
Solution: In 2022, Tolleson adopted RH Borden’s Manhole Virtual Modeling program to streamline its asset management. RH Borden deployed field teams equipped with LIDAR and high-resolution video scanning technology to create digital twins of each manhole. MVM technology begins with a field team capturing detailed images and LIDAR scans of each manhole. These scans generate a high-resolution, 3D digital twin, which provides a precise representation of the manhole’s current condition. The collected data is then processed using RH Borden’s algorithm, which compares the digital twin to a baseline condition, detecting structural weaknesses, wall degradation, and corrosion levels. The algorithm assigns a condition score to each manhole, enabling municipalities to systematically rank maintenance priorities.
Result: Tolleson gained a complete and objective understanding of its manhole infrastructure in just a few months. The city was able to prioritize rehabilitation efforts based on real-time data, ensuring that the most critical areas were addressed first. By leveraging MVM technology, Tolleson significantly improved its wastewater collection system’s integrity and long-term resilience while optimizing budget allocation. 385-510-3223; www.rhborden.com
Sanitary district reduces inflow with innovative manhole sealant
Problem: The Truckee Sanitary District in California faced serious I&I issues, where rainwater rapidly entered the sewer system, overwhelming infrastructure and increasing the risk of overflows and backups. Investigations revealed that nearly 90% of manholes in affected areas leaked at the frame and cover interface, despite using covers with integrated O-rings. This infiltration led to significant system flow spikes during heavy rain events.
Solution: TSD first applied a pipe joint lubricant to manhole frames, which temporarily sealed leaks but eventually washed away. Seeking a more durable solution, they tested Hercules Pro Dope, a petroleum-based thread sealant from Oatey, which proved more effective. Seeing its potential, TSD submitted their idea for improvement to Oatey’s Idea Portal. In response, Oatey collaborated with the Truckee team to refine and enhance the compound for this specific need. This partnership led to the development of Hercules Shutout Manhole Lubricant and Sealant – a nontoxic, long-lasting solution designed specifically for manhole applications.
Result: Treated manholes experienced significantly lower flow spikes during rain events compared to untreated areas. The sealant reduced the force required to open manhole covers, lowering the risk of back injuries and hearing damage. Requiring minimal training, the product could be applied quickly during routine maintenance. 800-321-9532; www.oatey.com
