Professional Documents
Culture Documents
com/info
CONTENTS
VOLUME 17 • NUMBER 8 • AUGUST 2009 • WWW.TRENCHLESSONLINE.COM
ON THE COVER D E PA R T M E N T S
8 News
The American Augers team: (l-r) Dan Sharpe, Dave Hammond, John Hoffman,
20 NASTT Newsletter
James Pfeiffer, Brad Dolan, Guy Randall and Sharon Oliver.
65 Calendar
C O V E R S TO R Y COLUMNS
22 American Augers Stays True to Its Roots 6 Publisher’s Message
American Augers continues to be known for its state-of-the-art auger 18 Industry Watch
boring machines but today, a large part of the company’s success 64 Technical Forum
focuses on the horizontal directional drilling market. By Sharon M. Bueno 70 Point of View
MARKETPLACE
66 Business Cards
F E AT U R E S 68 Index of Advertisers
26 Sliplining in France
Sliplining was used to rehabilitate culverts in France, using GRP
pipe systems.
DIRECTIONAL
30 HDPE & Pre-Chlorinated Pipe Bursting Helps to
DRILLING
Rehab Michigan Water Pipes
The City of Livonia, Mich., found the way to save its water system and 52 Right Tooling Aids in
also keep costs under control by selecting pipe that is long-lasting, Arkansas HDD Project
leak-free and makes it possible for a highly desirable method of
installation to be used. By Steve Cooper 56 Ground Conditions,
Wetlands Offer
Challenging River Crossing
34 TTC Retrospective
Taking a look at the past, present and future of the Trenchless 60 Electronic Drillmaster:
Technology Center. By James W. Rush Locate — The Need to
Expose & Monitor
38 Resin Selection for Cured-In-Place-Pipe Applications
One of the facilitators for the growth rate in CIPP and ready market
acceptance of the technique is the use of unsaturated polyester (UP)
and vinylester (VE) resins. These are the workhorses of the thermoset
composite industry. By Bill Carroll
42 A “Dream” Job
Vitrified clay pipe was selected to replace a deteriorated sewer line under Promoting Technology in the Utility
a well-known movie studio in California. The pipe was replaced using pilot Construction Industry
tube microtunneling. By Mike Van Dine
Coming in September...
48 ICUEE 2009 Is Here! A Look at WEFTEC 2009
A preview of the upcoming construction show is presented. By Leanne Butkovic
A Focus on Manholes
TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGY (ISSN 1064-4156) is published monthly, with an annual Directory in June Copyright 2009, Benjamin Media, Inc., P.O. Box 190,
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Call for more
information at
815-433-1275
America Sewer Rehabilitation was the strongest [they] have seen in several years.”And Ronald T. Thompson, P.E.
Malcolm Pirnie Inc., Jackson, Mississippi
referencing ARRA, they report “[they] also anticipate bidding opportunities to increase
Irene McSweeney, P.E.
in this market as the impact of the stimulus dollars flow into the system.” Boston Water and Sewer Commission
The feeling is that the leadership in North America has finally gotten the message Boston, Massachusetts
that we have to fix our water/wastewater systems. There are too many sinkholes, e Editorial & Advertising Offices
1770 Main St., P.O. Box 190
coli bacteria in water off our beaches, drought and even drugs ending up in our water Peninsula, OH 44264 USA
systems. The general population seems much more willing to accept rate increases, (330) 467-7588 • Fax: (330) 468-2289
which in turn is a major funding source for water work. Some people say “the economy www.trenchlessonline.com
e-mail: info@benjaminmedia.com
can’t get any worse,” but let’s all continue to push and work hard to have trenchless
technology to lead in getting out of these horrible economic times.
Reprints
Wright Reprints
Best regards, Ph: 877-652-5295
Fax: 281-419-5712
Bernard P. Krzys
President & Publisher
For more information visit www.trenchlessonline.com/info For more information visit www.trenchlessonline.com/info
14 TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGY August 2009 www.trenchlessonline.com
gious professional organization as ACEC,” Midwest Mole with their workplace practices were
said Tom Mochty, Woolpert senior vice honored May 5, before a record-crowd
president. “This recognition exemplifies Honored in Indiana at the Indiana Roof Ballroom as the
our commitment to working with the Midwest Mole Inc. recently Indiana Chamber unveiled rankings
FAA as well as other organizations to pro- announced that it has been ranked as for the 70 companies from through-
vide a high level of excellence and exper- one of the “Best Places to Work in out the state that made the 2009 Best
tise in the geospatial sciences sector.” Indiana” for the Small to Medium-size Places to Work in Indiana list.
ACEC’s council membership is com- Companies (25 to 249 employees). The 2009 Best Places honors the
prised of more than 5,500 council mem- Companies setting the standard top companies in the state, as deter-
ber firms. These firms employ hundreds
of thousands of engineers, architects, land
surveyors, scientists and other specialists,
responsible for more than $200 billion of
private and public works annually.
Woolpert, ranked by Engineering News-
Record as a top national design firm, pro-
vides professional engineering, architec-
ture, planning, enterprise information
management, water management, survey-
ing and photogrammetry and remote
sensing services to clients in the public
and private sectors.
GM Halts Production of
Medium-Duty Trucks
It’s been a long, hard road for General
Motors (GM). GM filed for Chapter 11
bankruptcy in early June and has now
announced that it will be winding down
its medium-duty trucks. Production of
the Chevy Kodiak and GMC Topkick
medium duty trucks was to cease by July
31, 2009.
For the past four years, GM has been
attempting to locate a buyer for its
medium duty truck business. Although it
had several interested parties, GM was
not be able to come up with a viable
arrangement that would be in the best
interests of both companies.
Unfortunately, that has lead GM to get
out of the medium-duty truck business.
“We will be honoring all warranties
on our medium-duty truck products and,
of course, will maintain an adequate
supply of spare parts for the foreseeable
future,” said Jim Hopson, manager of
Pontiac Communications. “We are cur-
rently working out all of the details
regarding servicing the vehicles after
the end of 2010, but customer’s first
point of contact should still be their
dealer.”
Few details were provided by GM, as
the company prepares liquidates the
medium-duty assets over the next 18
months.
A
report released by the Water Design-Build Council, a priority to create jobs, the design-build approach allows
not-for-profit organization representing the leading states and municipalities to begin to complete their much
design-builders of municipal water and wastewater needed water and wastewater projects more quickly than
systems, highlights the growth of the design-build method of the traditional design-bid-build method.”
project delivery for the nation’s water and wastewater From 2005 to 2008, Water Design-Build Council members
infrastructure projects. reported design-build revenue of $6.4 billion and a total of
The report, a four-year analysis of the Water Design-Build nearly 349 projects across the United States. On average, 82
Council’s member firms, found that the sales value for the percent of member projects were design-build, while 15
market grew nearly 80 percent in 2008 to reach $2.2 billion, percent were construction management at risk and 3
representing 89 new projects. Geographically, projects in percent were design-build-operate.
Florida, Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico represented 73
percent of all sales in 2008. Other Key Findings from the Report Include:
“Increasingly, municipalities are working with design-build • The average design-build contract duration from 2005 to
firms to address the need to repair, improve and expand their 2008 was 1.8 years;
water and wastewater treatment facilities,” said Peter W. • The median value of new projects was $3.3 million;
Tunnicliffe, president of the Water Design-Build Council and • Projects inArizona,California,Florida andTexas accounted
a senior vice president with CDM. “The growth of design- for 65 percent of the design-build market sales since
build project delivery in the municipal sector follows the 2005; and
significant use of design-build delivery in the federal sector. • The number of water and wastewater projects was
The Council made recommendations to the Obama nearly equal, at 47 percent and 42 percent, respectively.
Administration and Congress that given the stimulus bill’s
Volume 24 No. 4 Last weekend, I attended our very first industry involves each of us doing our part to
August 2009 planning meeting for NASTT’s annual No-Dig educate people about the benefits and
Show, scheduled for May 2-7, 2010, in capabilities of the trenchless technology
Chicago. Forty-plus members of the Program industry. How can you get involved with
Actively Advancing the
Committee reviewed a record-number of NASTT and the trenchless industry? There
Science and Practice of
abstracts for consideration in the technical is no better example of volunteerism than
Trenchless Technology for the
paper program. We have 140 papers in the involvement with your NASTT regional
Benefit of the Public and
lineup, packed with timely topics and relevant chapter at the local level.
Private Sectors, Industry
and useful information. The folks at the Western Chapter are
and Government
My personal thanks to the NASTT staff, planning its fifth annual Western Regional
the entire Program Committee and to 2010 No-Dig Conference for Sept. 10-11, in
An Affiliate of the
Program Chair Mark Hallett for volunteering Honolulu. During the two-day event,
International Society for
their time to review and choose such attendees can expect a quality educational
Trenchless Technology
interesting topics and papers for the next program and exhibits, plus all the
year’s No-Dig. Because of their tireless networking opportunities available to
NASTT work and many hours, our papers will
again be some of the very best ones in the
meet face-to-face with industry leaders.
NASTT is sponsoring two of its good
1655 N. Fort Myer Dr.
Suite 700 industry at No-Dig 2010 in Chicago, where practices courses – pipe bursting and
Arlington, VA 22209 we will also be celebrating NASTT’s 20th HDD – on Sept. 11. To get involved,
Phone: (703) 351-5252 anniversary! contact Jennifer Glynn, Sam Ariaratnam
Fax: (703) 739-6672 I am really pleased to see all of our or Kate Wallin, or visit the conference
E-mail: nastt@nastt.org volunteers hard at work. The future of our Web site at www.nastt.org/westt.
Web site: www.nastt.org
OFFICERS
Chairman 2009 Northwest Trenchless Ragula Honored with
Chris Brahler Project of the Year: John B. McGowan Sr.
TT Technologies Call for Applications Research Award
The Northwest Chapter (NASTT-NW) George Ragula was selected by the
Vice Chairman is now accepting applications for the American Gas Association (AGA) to receive
George Ragula 2009 Northwest Trenchless Project of the 2009 John B.
Public Service Electric & Gas the Year. Projects submitted for consid- McGowan Sr.
eration as project of the year must: be Research Award
Secretary located within Alberta, Saskatchewan, in recognition of
Keith Hanks or Manitoba; utilize at least one form of his valuable
City of Los Angeles trenchless technology; and be in some research to
form of activity in 2009 (i.e. com- devise a gas
Treasurer menced, in progress or completed this safety valve ret-
Kaleel Rahaim year). The application deadline is Aug. rofit in existing
Interplastic Corp. 31, 2009. gas service lines
If you have an interesting project that without an exca-
2010 No-Dig Program Chairman meets these criteria and would like to vation. Ragula
Mark Hallet submit an application for the project of the was presented
SAERTEX multiCom LP year award, please complete the online with this presti-
application available at www.nastt-nw. gious award at
Executive Director George Ragula
com. The successful applicant will be the 2009 AGA
Michael Willmets notified of the award in mid-September Operations
and will be required to provide a 20-min- Conference and Biennial Exhibition, May
Assistant Executive Director ute slideshow presentation describing the 19-21, in Pittsburgh.
Angela Ghosh project at the Northwest Trenchless Ragula is the Vice Chairman of NASTT
Conference. The award will be officially and serves on its Board of Directors. He is
presented at the conference on Nov. 25, the Distribution Technology Manager for
2009. Public Service Electric & Gas Co.
20
The Northwest
Chapter is presenting its
13th annual Northwest
Trenchless Conference
By Chris Brahler
in Calgary, Canada, on
Nov. 25. This conference
includes technical presentations and a trade
show with a pre-conference course on NASTT
New Installation Methods Good Practices,
Nov. 24. To participate, contact Duane Strayer
or go to www.nastt-nw.com.
I have attended both of the Western and
Northwestern Chapter events in past years,
and I can attest to the high level of quality
presentations and excellent networking
opportunities available. I really encourage you
all to participate! Whether it is speaking,
sponsoring or exhibiting at NASTT events,
you can demonstrate your commitment to the
future of this growing industry. Do your part
No-Dig Program Committee Members at the first planning meeting for the 2010 No-Dig Show. – volunteer for NASTT!
A
merican Augers’ auger boring roots trace back to 1963
with the construction of one auger boring machine that
was built in a small garage in a rural Ohio community.
Today, the company is a worldwide leader in auger boring and
maxi-size horizontal directional drilling (HDD) equipment with
international product dealers representing all corners of the
globe. With a milestone anniversary just a few months away,
American Augers has grown exponentially from its modest
garage beginnings, as has its reputation and position in the
trenchless marketplace.
ays True to Its Roots
Al Richmond may have started this manufacturing ven-
ture by building one auger boring machine, but in 2009,
American Augers is a multi-million dollar manufacturing
company with eight different auger boring machine mod-
els and six different maxi-size horizontal directional drill-
ing rigs leading its product fleet. American Augers also
produces HDD mud systems, auger sections and cutting
heads and in recent years has added vertical drilling rigs for
the oil and gas market, tapping into that growing market.
The American Augers campus — once comprised of
just Richmond’s garage — now spans 240,000 sq ft
(including a recent 100,000-sq ft addition) and has grown
from a handful of employees in its inception to 150 today,
making the company one of the largest employers in the
West Salem, Ohio, area.
“I never had the opportunity to meet Mr. Richmond but
I’m sure he would be amazed if he walked through here
today to see the products we build, the quality of our
engineering department and the worldwide support,”
says American Augers president James Pfeiffer. “I’m sure
he had a vision for where auger boring could go but I’m
sure he never had a vision for how far it has come.”
While today’s technology has made equipment faster,
bigger and more powerful, not much has changed since
Al Richmond built that first auger boring machine when
it comes to quality, customer service and ingenuity —
they are ingrained in the American Augers’ philosophy.
T
he French highway network spans almost 12,000 As a consequence, the highway companies conducted
route km, 60 percent of which are administered in an extensive inventory. First surveys provided a better
a concession system by private companies such as overview: A significant number of the steel constructions
APRR (Autoroutes Paris-Rhin-Rhône). (corrugated galvanized iron culverts) and a number of
Thousands of metal culverts have been installed along concrete culverts showed serious defects. Consequently,
the roads to channel water and more than 50 percent of all six highway companies introduced a compulsory reha-
these are steel circulars or arches. After being in service for bilitation program, in accordance with the technical
30 to 40 years, these culverts have reached their maximum specifications by the French Water Act of 1992.
lifetime and are at risk to collapse any time, causing road On this account, HOBAS GRP Pipe Systems have con-
ruptures as far back as 20 years ago: Road embankment, tributed to the security upgrade of the construction and
paving and culverts needed to be repaired immediately, highways. Thanks to its environment-friendly characteris-
which required an expensive construction of temporary tics and its exceptionally long-lifetime properties, HOBAS
diversions for both water and traffic. GRP is a material that fulfills all requirements. It should
Order Online at
www.benjaminmedia.com/book-store
or Call 330-467-7588
For more information visit www.trenchlessonline.com/info For more information visit www.trenchlessonline.com/info
T
he City of Livonia, Mich.,
found the way to save its
water system and also keep
costs under control by selecting
pipe that is long-lasting, leak-free
and makes it possible for a highly
desirable method of installation to
be used.
Just a 30-minute drive from
Detroit and with a population of
almost 100,000, the City provides
more than 16 million gals of water
daily (mgd) to more than 38,000
residential, commercial and indus-
trial customers through some 400
miles of water main pipe that var-
ies in size from 3 to 36 in. Like
many other communities today, it
was faced with potentially expen-
sive decisions concerning sections
of the water system nearing the
end of its useful life. Much of the
system grid is well beyond its
original 40-year expectation, with
some pipes older than 60 years.
For many years, the iron pipes
were cracking and coming apart
at the joints. System failures due
to water main breaks were a
growing problem.The ductile iron
pipe, from large trunk lines to
smaller distribution branches, was
also prone to constricted flow
due to tuberculation that was
caused by the buildup of rust and
sedimentary deposits of various
salts, such as iron and magnesium
precipitates.
The regulating authority for
water in Michigan is the Michigan
Department of Environmental
Quality (MDEQ). Current guide-
lines indicate that if a municipal
water supply is to provide service
to customers and for fire protec-
tion, the minimum pipe size is 6
in., while maintaining a residual
minimum pressure of 20 psi at all
points in the system.
Not only was the City of Livonia
facing the inability to maintain
Pipe bursting with HDPE pipe was used to rehab some of the City of Livonia,
Mich.’s aging pipes.
IAB meeting attendees, faculty and students pose in front of the new TTC research facility, which was dedicated Nov. 7, 2007.
T
he year is 1989, you have just returned from your lunch tion for utilities, it also served as a seedbed for new product
break during which you caught up on news reports on development and a medium by which industry and academia
the latest developments in Eastern Europe (was the could share knowledge. Today, the Trenchless Technology
Berlin Wall really going to be opened?).You return to your desk Center carries on this tradition and remains one of the premier
and, while glancing over the curled faxes awaiting you (isn’t research centers focused on underground utilities worldwide.
this new technology great!?), you see a slick-haired stranger As TTC begins its third decade, it will do so under new lead-
approaching, briefcase in hand. ership. Upon the retirement of its director, Dr. Ray Sterling, the
Your sewer department had been faced with a host of issues reins have passed to Dr. Rob McKim, who will serve as admin-
— backups, overflows, broken pipes, sinkholes — and this istrative director, and Dr. Erez Allouche, who will serve as
salesman says he has the answer to your problems (so this research director. Both men have long histories in the trench-
resin-saturated felt can seal my pipes while not digging up the less technology industry, as well as with TTC. Allouche is an
streets?). It seems almost too good to be true. You need more associate professor of civil engineering at Louisiana Tech and
information. But where can you find it? has been with TTC since 2003. McKim returns to Ruston fol-
It was in this environment in which theTrenchlessTechnology lowing stints in industry and academia. McKim worked at TTC
Center (TTC) was founded at Louisiana Tech University in for three years from 1998-2001.
Ruston, La. At the time, technologies like directional drilling, As the trenchless market has matured since the founding of
microtunneling and cured-in-place pipe were making inroads, the Trenchless Technology Center (which was originally called
but little was known about these methods. That’s where TTC the Trenchless Excavation Center), the role of the center has
came in. And while TTC served as a clearinghouse of informa- evolved to keep pace.“The pioneers of trenchless technology
34 TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGY August 2009 www.trenchlessonline.com
brought a vision, ingenuity and tremen-
dous talents in the fields of mechanical and
hydraulic systems, and TTC’s role was to
spread the gospel and assist in the accep-
tance and incorporation of these technolo-
gies into the marketplace,” Allouche said.
“As the market has grown, TTC’s role has
shifted to assist in the development of new
technologies, materials and concepts that
will assist companies and utilities in
improving the services they provide in
terms of enhanced quality, lower costs and
reduced impacts.”
For more information visit www.trenchlessonline.com/info Jim Rush is editor of Trenchless Technology.
36 TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGY August 2009 www.trenchlessonline.com
November 19–20, 2009
Doubletree Hotel Houston Intercontinental Airport
Many factors determine the success of an HDD project, the majority of which do not involve the actual
breaking of soil. Executive decisions and planning are critical during all phases of a given project –
some unique, some universal. The HDD Executive Forum addresses many of these factors on a peer-to-
peer basis, sharing experiences, guidelines and market condition assessments. This is a conference for
company executives presented by company executives, aimed at the common goal of improving
the bottom line.
• HDD Good Practices Guidelines – updates and what you need to know
• Existing Utilities – your responsibilities as a driller; what you need to know to avoid them;
the ramifications of a utility strike
• Equipment Purchasing – changes regarding tax laws/incentives; purchase vs. lease vs. rent
• Legal/Environmental Permitting
• Trends in Trenchless Technology – telco/fiber, sewer/water, oil/gas
• Workforce Issues – training staff, staff retention, drug testing, OSHA requirements
• High-tech HDD – the cutting edge technologies that are being used
• Rock Drilling – how rock bores are different from soil bores – what you need to know in
putting together bids and planning for the job
• Economic Outlook – economist speaking about the market and the outlook for 2010
• Roundtable – a panel of industry experts discussing the issues that are impacting them, how they
are addressing them and how they are adapting to market conditions
On the left is a typical CIPP felt tube before impregnation and on the right is a tube being impregnated with resin.
T
he cured-in-place-pipe (CIPP) industry has and effluents through it. Its main function, though, is
experienced phenomenal growth since its to provide resistance to the wide variety of chemicals
inception nearly 40 years ago. It has become the often encountered in municipal sewer systems. From
method of choice for rehabilitation of deteriorated the moderately benign soapy water, waste products
underground sewers and pipelines due to its low and cleaning solutions from personal residences to
installation cost, ease and speed of installation and the harsh chemicals discharged from industrial
minimization of ancillary requirements such as traffic manufacturing plants, the resin itself must not degrade
rerouting, security, etc. over the design lifetime of the CIPP system. In addition,
One of the facilitators for this fast growth rate and it must display sufficient integrity to maintain long-
ready market acceptance of the technique is the use of term structural effectiveness.
unsaturated polyester (UP) and vinylester (VE) resins. In choosing a resin for a CIPP system, it is first
These workhorses of the thermoset composite industry necessary to identify the types and concentrations of
have a long track record in corrosion-resistance the chemicals to which it is expected to be exposed.
applications. With an extensive database developed over Thermal resistance is not usually an issue in
decades of service, UP and VE resins and composites underground applications but must be taken into
were well suited for adoption by the CIPP industry. consideration if installed near facilities that discharge
In addition, the physical characteristics of these liquids at above-ambient temperatures, such as
resins are quite amenable to the CIPP process. Low discharges from pulp and paper mills. A secondary
viscosities allow them to easily flow through and wet consideration is the potential for chemicals to come in
out the felt and fiberglass tubing used to reline existing contact with each other in the CIPP system. Often,
pipeline systems. The resins’ ability to cure quickly and municipalities have a history of material within an
under a variety of conditions made for easy existing environment or they have performed analyses
implementation. Their ability to cure thermally, through of their current eff luents to identify types and
initiation by organic peroxides, as well as by exposure concentrations processed within their system.
to ultraviolet light widened the opportunities to design The workhorse of UP corrosion-resistance applications
systems to fit a great diversity of field applications. are isophthalic resins. The term “isophthalic” resins cover
The heart of the CIPP system is the resin matrix. It a broad range of resin types and applications in the
causes a limp, flexible felt tube to become a rigid, composites industry. Corrosion-resistant resins, however,
structural member, allowing the free flow of liquids are a fairly narrow slice of polymer compositions. While it
Research Tools
properties, so starting with a high
molecular weight means it can
sustain more attacks on the
backbone before it loses structural
integrity. Swelling of the polymer
also results in a loss of structural
properties.Again, a higher molecular
weight results in fewer end groups
You Need
to attract attacking chemicals and
also contributes to less free volume
in the matrix and less ability for
molecules to penetrate the network.
To Succeed!
A higher reactivity resin, meaning a
higher crosslink density, also
inhibits the transport of molecules
www.trenchlessonline.com
through the matrix and results in a
higher degree of chemical
Your No. 1 Web Resource!
resistance. High molecular weight
equates to high viscosities so CIPP
resins are usually high in styrene Drillmaster Series – Archived Issues & Webinars –
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Isophthalic type resins offer a
moderate degree of chemical
For more information visit www.trenchlessonline.com/info
A “Dream” Job
Vitrified Clay Pipe Selected to Install Sewer Line Under Movie Studio
T
ight timelines, a spaghetti mesh of existing utilities Improvement project called for both open-cut and
in the area, a cooling tower, electrical power trenchless installations (both pilot tube and jack-and-
vaults, buildings on the very edge of the easement bore methods), with a final depth of 20 ft, but one
that left no room for equipment or staging, parallel con- section of the project created some exceptional
struction of an adjacent four-story story building and demands.
fiber optics that fed one of the most highly recruited The plan called for the new line to follow the contour
and high profile companies in the country — of the Los Angeles River (LA River) between the river and
DreamWorks. This job had it all. the DreamWorks Studios. The timeline had no room for
As a part of ongoing sewer system upgrades, the City delays because a new DreamWorks Studio Animation
of Glendale, Calif., planned to abandon the existing Building was slated to be built as soon as possible after
sewer line in the DreamWorks studio campus in favor of the old line was abandoned (the new building was
a new, larger, relocated line, approximately 40 ft to the intended to be placed on top of the old sewer line).
west. In this congested urban campus, the options for Construction of the animation building and the sewer line
routing the new line weren’t good, but after two years were to run concurrently. The addition of the building
of negotiating the new easement, there was no going construction eliminated over half the available working
back. The Victory Truck Boulevard Wastewater Capacity space and further restricted access to the site.
More than 950 Exhibitors and 25,000 Attendees Are Expected at Biennial Show
By Leanne Butkovic
T
he International Construction and Utility Equip- and compile each event into a custom list. Everyone
ment Exposition (ICUEE), organized by the As- can also see online all of the new products being pre-
sociation of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), re- sented with a description, picture, and company and
turns for the 2009 year. booth number so that those of interest can easily be
“The Demo Expo,” as it has been nicknamed, will be located.
hosted on Tuesday, Oct. 6 through Thursday, Oct. 8, in Lou- New to ICUEE this year is the co-location of the Na-
isville, Ky., at the Kentucky Fair & Exposition Center — a tional Rural Water Association’s (NRWA) H20 X-PO.
tradition since 1987. The biennial show began as a small Like already existing co-locations, IUV Tech 09 and the
field demonstration in 1964 and blossomed into a formal IP Safety Conference & Expo, it is held in conjunction
expo by 1966. ICUEE has been growing ever since, with with ICUEE. This show focuses on presenting the latest
2009 projected to be the biggest yet — breaking records water and wastewater utility equipment and products
set during the previous show in 2007. to the industry’s professionals. With around 150 exhib-
ICUEE prides itself in being the top exposition for itors for H20 X-PO alone, the dual shows promote a
demonstrations of construction and utility equipment. broader networking and learning experience.
With its hands-on nature, attendees can operate equip- To learn more about ICUEE, visit www.icuee.com, call
ment for themselves and learn about the newest prod- toll-free at (800) 867-6060, or e-mail info@icuee.com.
ucts and innovations in the industry. More than 115 ed- Some of the trenchless products that can be seen at
ucation sessions, including field trips and an Horizontal ICUEE 2009 are featured below.
Directional Drilling (HDD) Workshop, supplement the
wide spectrum of machinery available to test. Accord- Leanne Butkovic is an editorial assistant for Trenchless
ing to show director Melissa Magestro, 100 percent Technology.
more education has been added to this year’s show.
More than 1 million net sq ft have been reserved
for the 950-plus exhibitors and 25,000-plus attendees Exhibit Hours
to achieve the best possible experience. To make this Oct. 6.............................................................8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
even more attainable, ICUEE has provided a “MyShow”
section on its Web site, where attendees can sign in and Oct. 7.............................................................8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
design their own schedule by searching for a certain Oct. 8.............................................................8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
product, exhibitor or session they want to see or attend
48 TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGY August 2009 www.trenchlessonline.com
Akkerman Inc. has a low centerline and wide stance in-the-box locator, advancing the HDD
Since 1973,Akkerman Inc. has manu- for machine stability, hydraulically as- industry with a more intuitive and eas-
factured distinctive microtunneling, sisted clutch with a power assisted ac- ier-to-use system than anything else on
pipe jacking, tunneling, guided boring tuator that is easy and comfortable to the market.The F2 system consists of a
and earth pressure balance equipment. operate, ergonomic operating controls handheld receiver, remote display, bat-
We attribute Akkerman Inc.’s reputa- that allow for feathering of the rota- tery char-
tion for superior reliability and respon- tion and slow turn of the shaft for easy ger and re-
sive service to auger installation. The 84/96-1800 NG chargeable
our team of ex- includes an updated gauge system that lithium-ion
perienced engi- includes engine tachometer, engine batteries.
neers, field tech- warning light and hydraulic thrust With a sin-
nicians and our pressure reading. Visit American Au- gle-button
extensive parts gers at Booth K125. user inter-
department. We’re bringing it all to you face and
at ICUEE 2009. Please visit our outdoor graphically
display #K103, featuring 6,500 sq ft of Blue Demon driven menu, the F2’s active display
live demonstrations and real life dis- Blue Demon’s new Extreme Taper enables DCI’s exclusive look-ahead
plays of all our equipment lines. Conical is good in hard soils, soft rock capability in a view similar to the Digi-
and some medium rock formations. Trak Eclipse locating system. The F2
Allied Construction Products It is designed for better penetration. includes the advanced features of Off-
Allied’s all-new generation of Hole- Bolt Patterns are available for Vermeer, Trak locating and Target Steering to
Hog piercing tools provide the least Ditch Witch and other major manufac- easily and accurately navigate the drill
expensive method for underground t u re r s . even when obstacles prevent tracking
pipe or service replacement in con- Call us over the drill head. For more informa-
struction and installation work. The at (800) tion, go to www.digitrak.com. Visit
Hole-Hog, which makes a clean, com- 2 8 2 - DCI at Booth #613.
pacted tunnel, travels underneath ob- 6769 or
structions, such as roads, driveways, see us ISCO Industries
parking lots, runways and founda- on the ISCO Industries is the nation’s larg-
tions without disturbing existing sur- Web at est distributor of HDPE pipe and qual-
faces and landscaping. When impas- w w w. ity McElroy Mfg. fusion equipment,
sible conditions bluedemon.com. both for sale or rental. ISCO stocks
are encountered, McElroy’s full line of equipment from
the Hole-Hog is CETCO Drilling Products manual models to the largest wheeled
easily reversed PROSHOT is an easy mixing, water and tracked units (up to 65 in.) to fu-
with the patent- soluble, high-strength polymer for
ed quarter-turn horizontal drilling applications. PRO-
reverse mecha- SHOT may be used in a wide variety of
nism (except soil conditions. It can be a stand-alone
the 4000). De- drilling fluid additive or used in com-
pending on the bination with HYDRAUL-EZ or SUPER
model selected, GEL-X. PROSHOT eliminates clay and
the Hole-Hog shale swelling, bit balling and stick-
makes holes from 1 7/8 in. to 6 in. in ing problems. This super high-quality
diameter.l. Visit Allied Construction polymer drilling fluid additive creates
Products at Booth K175. extreme
lubric-
American Augers ity, greatly sion accessories and special tooling.
American Augers — an industry reduces Check out all of the McElroy produc-
leader in auger boring manufacturing torque and tivity equipment in ISCO’s booth,
— introduces the 84/96-1800 NG, the increases #L102. Besides selling and renting
biggest and most powerful auger bor- penetra- equipment, ISCO is also a McElroy Au-
ing machine available on the market tion rates. thorized Service Center. ISCO offers
today. The 84/96-1800 NG allows for Call your the industry’s most complete Fusion
an increased ability to pull auger, steer- CETCO re- Manual with step-by-step instruc-
ing rods gional sales manager or your CETCO tions, and tips for successful fusion.
and push Drilling Products distributor for oth- For complete fusion product informa-
product er innovative ideas and drilling fluid tion call (800) 345-ISCO or go online
and im- products at (800) 527-9948. See us in at www.isco-pipe.com.
proves Booth 1534.
the visibil- Lewis Mfg.
ity to the Digital Control Inc. New Kevlar Bundling & Pulling Grips
master Digital Control Inc.’s (DCI) DigiTrak are the latest addition to Lewis Mfg’s
pusher. It F2 locating system is the ultimate ball- grip lines. These grips are made of
www.trenchlessonline.com August 2009 TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGY 49
plastic-coated Kevlar fi- Come and see a wide selection of trailers
bers that are lightweight, from single reel, self loading BRT90s to
yet much stronger than multi-reel RL4RTs.Also see our reel load-
steel wires. Kevlar grips ers and scrapper at the OK Champion
are traditionally used booth. Finally, check out our Hogg985, a
in overhead or under- powered reel dolly, at the Hogg and Da-
ground operations when vis booth. For more information or an in-
pulling or suspending vitation, please call us at (800) 252-0043.
electric or fiber-optic shorter wheelbase and a height of only See us in Booth N1049.
cable. These Ouchless 84 in., allowing contractors to access
Lewis Grips do not have areas normally not reachable for larger Railhead Underground Products
the metallic fraying as units. With a 575-cfm blower, 3,000 Go “green” with the Direct Bore I
traditional grips do, psi of water flow and a 3-in. diameter from Railhead, now available in 9- and
thereby eliminating the suction hose, the V500 low profile pro- 13-in. sizes. Designed
chance of being injured vides efficient spoil removal. The unit for the big drills —
from metallic strands also includes the industry-exclusive 140,000 to 1 million
that have been abraded. three-stage filtration system that allows lbs and larger — this
The Kevlar strand can for both wet and dry vacuum excava- new rock bit is made
be used in essentially all tion and a quiet pack power system for the bores that do
grip configurations. Kevlar grips can for reduced engine noise levels. Visit not require a mud
also be used when a metallic grip is McLaughlin at Booth K120. motor. The large
unsuitable, such as when pulling into steering shoe allows
an energized environment. For more Melfred Borzall the user to correct
information, call (888) 398-4719 or Hard, rocky soil is no match for Mel- faster than what was
visit www.lewismfg.com. Lewis Mfg.’s fred Borzall’s new addition to their line available until now.
booth is #440. of Eagle Claw bits. The all new 4-1/4- Made from heat-treat-
in. Eagle Claw is ready to rip through ed steel alloys, the bits feature replace-
McElroy the toughest jobs — sandstone, shale able teeth, as well as replaceable carbide
The new DynaMc Hand Pump (HP) and cobbles. The 4-1/4-in. Eagle Claw in the water ports. The pin back allows
machines provide the power and pres- features carbide buttons to minimize for fast make-up of the tooling. The Di-
sure required to butt fuse pipes size wear, quick-change carbide cutter rect Bore I is available exclusively from
2-in. IPS to 12-in. DIPS (63-mm to 340- teeth and a balanced cutting design authorized Railhead dealers. Call (817)
mm) with a hand-powered pump.The 594-6663 for the dealer nearest you.
double-action hand-pump paired with
high-velocity cylinders create faster The Robbins Co.
carriage speeds for critical opens and The Robbins Motorized Small Bor-
closes during the fusion process. The ing Unit (SBU-M) is ideal for long
DynaMc 28, 250 and 412 HPs — each crossings, gravity sewers and wher-
available in two- and four-jaw con- ever lines and grades are critical. The
figurations — comes with an easy-lift SBU-M, available in diameters from 48
cradle that can be removed to make to 78 in., allows for installations of up
the machine smaller for tight working to improve stability and decrease vi-
bration. Aggressive tri-tooth carbide
cutting action gets through the hard-
est conditions, and the conical shaped
steering face allows for quick reactions
to directional pushes. Melfred Borzall’s
Directional Depot has more than 60
years of horizontal drilling experience
behind this innovative tool design.Visit
Melfred Borzall at Booth #619.
Ground
Conditions
Wetlands Offer Challenging
River Crossing By Greg Ehm
For more information visit www.trenchlessonline.com/info For more information visit www.trenchlessonline.com/info
January: August:
Manhole Rehabilitation THE Most Cost-Effective A Vermeer D100x120 drill was used on the project.
archived on www.trenchlessonline.com
Trenchless Rehab:
Sponsored by:
Chemical Grouting
the most difficult to maintain.
Sponsored by:
February: The 24-in. HDPE waterline was staged on the exit side of
Pipe Bursting September: the bore and United Pipe of Boise, Idaho, used a fusion
archived on www.trenchlessonline.com machine to fuse the 50-ft segments. Earth Energy used a
The Latest Innovation in
Sponsored by: 32-in. cobble reamer to pull the 640 ft of pipe into place.
Pipe & Culvert Repair
using Carbon FRP “The pullback was a piece of cake,” says Williams.“During
April: the pullback, our pressure never exceeded 60,000 psi,
Sponsored by:
Trenchless Rehabilitation considering we were pulling more than 53,000 lbs of pipe
Cost Saving Strategies into place.The total project from pre-planning to completion
October:
Sponsored by:
Green Technology for took 42 working days.”
May: Corrosion Protection
Lateral Rehabilitation Sponsored by: Planning Tools Invaluable
Sponsored by:
One of the advantages of using Vermeer equipment is the
November: availability of Vermeer Bore Pilot and Atlas Bore Planner
June: Hard Rock and Mixed software to design the directional bore.
Innovations in Trenchless Ground Utility Tunneling According to Hoge, the initial step in utilizing the bore
Rehabilitation Sponsored by: software was to determine which directional drill would
Sponsored by: be used on the bore. Once the drill size is determined, a
December: topographic surface is built with the software and the
July: Trenchless Case Studies – desired depths along the proposed route are input into the
Root Control New and Rehab software program.
Sponsored by: “The software designs the bore profile based on the
Sponsored by:
allowable bend radius of the drill stem being used,” says
For more information visit www.trenchlessonline.com/info
U
nderground utilities and the HDD industry have price of a high-end utility locator is quite low compared to
mixed liked oil and water since the industry’s incep- two to three crewmembers digging for two hours a day, five
tion. Accusations and complaints — both real and days a week and 52 weeks out of the year.
imagined — have been hurled back and forth between the It is also a good idea to take note of the surrounding area
utility industry and the drilling contractors. All parties real- of the bore path. Is there a gas grill in the backyard? Is elec-
ize that the way to prevent damages is to expose the utili- tric or gas heat in the garage or a shed in the backyard? Can
ties in the drill path or adjacent to it before drilling. How you see a trench line where there are no utilities marked?
do you do this in a way that is cost-effective and minimizes Most utility companies are not required to locate these
destruction to roads, improved lawns and grounds? lines on private property.
Utility Locators Non-destructive Means
How do these 40-plus-ft deep bores get located? Most Once the utility has been located, there are three meth-
utility locators only locate to depths of 20 ft or so. All states ods that can be used to accomplish its exposure: mechani-
in the United States now have a call-before-you-dig law. cal exposure and pneumatic- and hydro-excavation.
Basically, this law gives the utility company two to three Mechanical exposure can be accomplished by either
days to locate and mark its utility. hand-digging or through other mechanized means such as
a backhoe. Hand-digging requires a tremendous amount of
time in order to dig a pothole to the required depth of the
Once the utility has been located, there buried service. Another consideration, other than time and
are three methods that can be used to manpower, is the possibility of injury to workers using the
accomplish its exposure: mechanical and shovel method. Using a backhoe for exposure increases the
amount of restoration required to return the area to its
pneumatic- and hydro-excavation. natural condition and further increases the possibility of
damage to the underground utility.
Pneumatic- and hydro-excavation practices are by far the
best methods to use when attempting non-destructive
Pipe and cable locators broadcast a radio signal on a util- exposure of buried utilities. Pneumatic-excavation retrieves
ity and the receiver reads the signal. Some locators can the spoil in a dry condition, which can later be used as
simultaneously broadcast two or more signals, and the backfill, while special hydro reduction digging tools make
receiver will tell the person locating which signal is flow- this a one-person operation. Both methods can dig a 6-in.
ing better on the utility. Ninety-nine percent of the locating diameter hole to a depth of 5 ft in less than 20 minutes.
manufacturing companies agree the best way to locate a Furthermore, the vacuum excavator can perform double-
utility is to direct-connect to the line. duty by vacuuming drilling fluid from the sump in front of
Coil clamps are another option for broadcasting a signal the machine and removing frac-outs along the bore path.
to a utility line. Indirect or induction broadcasting is by far Finally, to bore either above or below a given utility with-
the most inaccurate method to locate. This method can out exposing that service and monitoring the progress of
broadcast a signal to all the utilities in the area and confuse the drilling head and reamer is not recommended. It is
the locate personnel. Some HDD locators on the market senseless to put your crew and yourself in harm’s way to
today will also locate underground utilities. install a service. In our industry, we need to exhibit profes-
Many HDD contractors double-check the utility marks in sionalism when working with buried plant by locating,
the bore path. Even though there is a red line painted on exposing and monitoring the installation.
the ground signifying a buried electric line, the contractor
still needs to expose this line by non-destructive means. John Archambeault is regional sales manager for locators at
How many times has a contractor hand dug to a depth of 5 Mclaughlin Mfg., as well as a member of the Electronic Drillmaster
ft with no electric line visible? Contractors need to perform Advisory Board. All Electronic Drillmaster Reports are reviewed by
their own locates by someone well versed in utility locat- the Electronic Drillmaster Advisory Board: Archambeault; John
ing. This person is usually the HDD locator because of the Bieberdorf, The Charles Machine Works Inc.; Siggi Finnsson,
vast experience this person has locating the HDD head.The Digital Control Inc.; and Ed Savage, Vermeer Corp.
PVC Pipe
Successfully Installed
in Iowa HDD Project
By Sarah Humphreys
A
West Point, Iowa-sanitary force main project for a new it appeared it would meet the requirements of the project.”
subdivision called for 2,570 ft of 4-in. C900, as well as Eagle Loc 900 is a C900 PVC pipe from JM Eagle whose
ability to work around less-than-perfect conditions. bell is fitted with BullDog internal joint restraint manufactured
Heavy rains leading up to and including the project’s first day by S&B Technologies. The BullDog system includes a Rieber
made for wet and muddy soils. gasket, iron grip ring and casing. When the installer pushes
For the underground-utility contractor, KM King the spigot end of the pipe into the bell, the pieces lock
Construction of Burlington,Iowa,this was a typical installation. together. Restraint is internal; there is no need for tools or
KM King Construction,which has been performing horizontal external rods, clamps or bolts, which are susceptible to
directional drilling (HDD) for about seven years in response moisture and, consequently, corrosion.
to a high volume of cast-iron-pipe-replacing reconstruction The internal restraint also eliminates the need for frequently
work in the area, is accustomed to a high water table and used concrete thrust blocks. These can interfere with other
otherwise tricky situations. But company president Kim King infrastructure elements, make for a labor-intensive project,
was also ready to try something new. increase material costs, require too much space, stray from
Specifications from project manager and engineer Jack the engineer’s specs and make later excavations difficult or
Pope, Gardener & Associates, Oskaloosa, Iowa, called for a impossible.
C900 product with external joint restraint in the form of “We thought that it would be an easier installation and save
couplings with O-rings.The product required the installer to time,” says King of the request for the substitution.“The other
align the pipe and couplings and then insert a nylon spline. product required more time to fasten the joint.This seemed to
KM King Construction requested a material substitution for be the perfect product for what we needed to do.”
a C900 product that included internal joint restraint instead. One of the things they needed to do was avoid disturbing
“I had used it several times and had good success with it,” adjacent sports fields, where soccer and baseball tournaments
says Pope of the external restraint product.“This was the first were going on.The specs called for HDD on about half of the
time I’d seen Eagle Loc 900. Based on the specs I was provided, project and left the rest of the installation to the contractor’s
For more information visit www.trenchlessonline.com/info For more information visit www.trenchlessonline.com/info
L
ateral reinstatement, one of Solutions often come from re- Hydro-powered cutters common-
the most time-consuming gions of the world that have borne ly integrate onboard cameras, as
aspects of pipe relining, is higher regulatory burdens for lon- pressurized water is readily avail-
typically performed by pneumatic ger periods of time. In Western Eu- able to rinse cutting debris from
cutters that are winched into place rope, for instance, hydro-powered view and to actuate outriggers that
and monitored by an adjacent cutters have emerged to deliver in- minimize vibration. These onboard
CCTV crawler. This arrangement creased productivity while slashing cameras eliminate the expense of an
worked fine for contractors when overhead requirements. Powered by auxiliary CCTV crawler to monitor
relining was a niche industry, high-pressure water, these cutters cutting progress. Many hydro-pow-
but tightening regulations and generate five times the torque of ered cutters are also self-propelled,
crumbling infrastructure have their pneumatic counterparts, allow- saving the time and resources re-
commoditized relining services, so ing them not only to cut faster with- quired to string a winch line from
staying profitable means stripping out stalling, but to mill out an entire a secondary manhole. Self-propul-
inefficiencies from the process. connection rather than leave a cou- sion not only allows these cutters
Moreover, relining materials have pon to cause problems downstream. to crawl up to 500 ft, it adds an-
grown more durable, requiring They also cut at up to 30,000 rpm, other axis of cutting motion to the
cutting power that exceeds what leaving exceptionally clean edges cutting arm’s bend and rotation.
existing technology offers. that require no post-cut brushing. Furthermore, hydro power can be
packaged compactly, allowing cut-
ting in lines as small as 2.5 in.
Lateral reinstatement is harsh
work, and maintenance — routine
and unplanned — is part of any
relining crew’s daily activity. In
fact, many relining operations incur
the expense of keeping an extra
cutter system on hand just to avoid
downtime. With a water-cooled
motor that has few moving parts,
hydro-powered cutters require
substantially less maintenance and
are easily serviced in the field.
Water also cools the cutting bit,
allowing it to perform up to 90
hours before it’s replaced. Hydro-
powered cutters typically use
diamond-impregnated hardened
steel cutters, which are better
matched to the speed and torque
of hydro-powered cutting, and last
longer when cutting hard UV-cured
liners and performing pre-lining
tasks. In fact, protruding taps,
raised joints, roots, grout flashing,
rebar and other hard materials can
all be cut on a single run.
SEPTEMBER NOVEMBER
23-25 Tunneling Short Course, 15-17 AEM Annual Conference,
Colorado School of Mines, Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa,
Golden, Colo. Hollywood, Fla.,
(303) 444-2650 Web site: www.aem.org
Web: www.microtunneling.com
19-20 HDD Executive Forum,
OCTOBER Doubletree Hotel Houston
Intercontinental Airport, Houston,
6-8 ICUEE 2009, Web: www.trenchlessonline.com/hdd
Louisville, Ky., AEM,
Web: www.icuee.com
DECEMBER
10-14 WEFTEC 2009 Annual 14-15 UIM Asset Management
Conference & Expo, Conference, IUPUI, Indianapolis,
Orlando, Fla., (330) 467-7588,
(800) 666-0206 Web: www.uimonline.com
The Latest Innovation in Pipe & Culvert Repair using Carbon FRP
Join Dr. Mo Ehsani, founder of QuakeWrap, for this informative one-hour webinar on Carbon FRP for pipe and culvert repair. Prof. Ehsani
has been featured on major media such as CNN, National Public Radio, and the History Channel for his expertise on strengthening of
structures, particularly related to earthquakes, terrorist attacks and other potential structural disasters
Dr. Ehsani will focus his presentation on two Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) systems for pipe repair and strengthening:
• The traditional wet layup system
• The recently developed PipeMedic™ laminates
For more information visit www.trenchlessonline.com/info For more information visit www.trenchlessonline.com/info
For more information visit www.trenchlessonline.com/info For more information visit www.trenchlessonline.com/info
For more information visit www.trenchlessonline.com/info
For more information visit www.trenchlessonline.com/info For more information visit www.trenchlessonline.com/info
For more information visit www.trenchlessonline.com/info For more information visit www.trenchlessonline.com/info
For more information visit www.trenchlessonline.com/info For more information visit www.trenchlessonline.com/info
W
hen you’re faced with an most important would be the pipe system, it’s totally leak free.
impending disaster, isn’t it reduction of potable water waste. There are glimmers of hope. On a
only natural to take steps to This would push back the timeframe city-by-city basis, solutions are being
prevent the catastrophe? Believe it or when additional water resources — implemented. One example is in
not, our towns, cities and entire new wells, reservoirs, water supply Cascade, Idaho, where the under-
communities are on the cusp of such contracts with neighboring states, funded and neglected infrastructure
a situation. etc. — would be needed and help to water and wastewater systems were
I’m talking about our nation’s water fight periodic droughts. on their last legs. Upon realizing the
systems — they’re failing. Water main The NewYork Times Op-Ed columnist, benefits of HDPE pipe, a plan was
breaks are popping up regularly and Bob Herbert recently questioned, “I implemented to replace the mishmash
news reports are increasing about wonder what it will take to get this of concrete, steel, cast iron and just
flooding that puts citizens in harm’s country serious about repairing and about every other type of pipe that
way. Yet we continue doing things the rebuilding its crumbling and had been previously used. For Cascade,
same way and expecting different increasingly obsolete infrastructure.” the possibility of future water loss was
results — isn’t that the definition of He then referenced the 2009 “Report eliminated.
insanity? It’s time to implement smarter, Card for America’s Infrastructure” Another is Tulsa, Okla., where old
greener, more sustainable solutions. produced by the American Society of metal pipes leak water at an alarming
The major culprits are older Civil Engineers (ASCE): rate and water conservation is a priority.
degrading pipelines that get patched “America’s drinking water systems These conditions, coupled with the
up using traditional materials. This face an annual shortfall of at least $11 city’s awareness that HDPE pipe is used
predicament is worsened by a lack of billion to replace aging facilities that by the area’s oil and gas industry where
regulation over water loss from are near the end of their useful life and zero-leakage is critical, convinced the
leaking pipe systems. Yet, these are to comply with existing and future city to install it for potable water
easy to correct. federal water regulations. This does systems in new sub-divisions.
First, let’s take a look at the situation. not account for growth in the demand These types of revitalizations are
The figures for water loss are for drinking water over the next 20 growing. But, new rules are needed.
staggering. Due to the limitations of years. Leaking pipes lose an estimated Regulations could be developed
traditional pipe systems, it is common seven billion gallons of clean drinking insisting advanced materials such as
practice for utilities to accept and water a day.” HDPE pipe be considered as part of the
anticipate 10 to 15 percent rate of Mr. Herbert concluded: “We’re due diligence for a new system or the
water loss. Current industry standards suffering now from both a failure of repair of an existing one.
allow leakage rates for newly installed will and of imagination.” If we are serious about helping to
potable and storm water systems. This does not have to be the case. It minimize our carbon footprint and
Public water systems serving more can be changed. Plastic pipe provides protect precious natural resources we
than 1 million people in the United favorable labor and material costs, ease need to apply innovative greener
States average a loss of 17 percent. of installation, superior joints and a solutions that deliver sustainable
New York City pegs its loss at 10 lower carbon footprint when compared performance characteristics and
percent: Daily water use is just more to traditional metal and concrete pipe. thereby prevent all-too-familiar
than 1 billion gal. The world loses It’s lighter, easier and practical to catastrophes.
around 33 percent of its drinking transport, requiring less fuel for If you would like more information
water each year. delivery. It can be installed in many about HDPE pipe systems, contact the
It’s not only a ‘cost-of-water’ issue. cases through trenchless applications Plastics Pipe Institute at (469) 499-
Leaking sanitary sewer and storm that minimize destruction of an area 1044 or visit www.plasticpipe.org.
sewer pipes can also pose and the need to re-route traffic.
environmental and health issues. Plastic doesn’t rust, won’t discolor Tony Radoszewski is the executive director of
These circumstances point to a water, is corrosion and abrasion the Plastics Pipe Institute Inc., a North
dire need to regulate water loss and resistant, doesn’t tuberculate and American, not-for-profit organization that
leaking pipes. If it became mandatory doesn’t lose its long-term hydraulic was founded in 1950. Representing both
that infrastructure managers reduce efficiency due to internal pipe wall Canada and the United States, it is the major
water loss by a certain percentage build up. Best of all, because high- trade association representing all segments
each year and totally eliminate it in density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe of the plastic piping industry and provides
the next decade, for example, there sections and fittings are fused together educational sessions, materials and expert
would be significant benefits. Perhaps delivering a completely monolithic testimonials.