Problem: A critical 2-mile raw water main in De Soto, Kansas, was experiencing reduced flow, leading to water shortages. The 16-inch ductile iron pipeline, installed in the 1940s, was the city’s primary water source. Population growth and ongoing development increased the demands for water. The objectives for American Pipeline Solutions (APS) and Blue Water Solutions Group were to improve the flow rates and conduct a condition assessment of the raw water main.
Solution: To remove sediment and debris that had reduced the effective diameter of the pipe from 16 inches to 12 inches, pigs in different sizes and densities were launched into the pipeline and propelled by water pressure. When there wasn’t enough water pressure to propel the pig effectively during the day, the team quickly adapted by switching operations to nighttime hours. Following this, APS conducted a pipeline condition and integrity assessment using i2i’s SmartFoam Pig. Equipped with eddy current sensor technology, the smart pig assessed the pipe’s internal conditions, including corrosion, geometry and wall thickness.
Result: Flow rates and operating pressures were restored to satisfactory levels, ensuring that the city could meet the demands. Data from the smart pig’s condition assessment confirmed the pipeline was in overall good condition, with no leaks and minimal levels of corrosion and debris. The pipeline was deemed to have decades of remaining service life, negating the need for immediate rehabilitation or costly repairs. 201-525-0088; www.americanpipelinesolutions.com
