As problems arise in older sewer systems, the challenges are becoming more and more common. A developed area with existing utilities, a need to maintain access to residences and businesses, mature trees and landscaping, and a need to replace and enlarge an existing collection line – these are some of the issues we are seeing more frequently.
CLEANER, August, 2022The ASTM International published a new standard practice for cleaning vitrified clay pipelines.
Until now, there was not a governing standard applicable to a collections system after it was placed in service.
Did you know that high-pressure jetting of sewer pipes can damage some materials?
“All sewer pipe can be damaged,” says Kent Carlson, vice president of the National Clay Pipe Institute.
Novi, MI is a growing area 25 miles northwest of Detroit. On this PTM project, they ran in to cobbles, flowing sands and dewatering constraints from Environment, Great Lakes & Energy.
The communities of Mission Bay and Pacific Beach, in San Diego, CA (the City) are much like many other oceanfront areas with high tourism, and high-water tables; they have an expectation of, and a need for, uninterrupted services.
Effective sewer cleaning begins with nozzle selection, and the tier system isn’t as helpful as you might think.
The project won the NUCA 2020 Top Jobs category for Sanitary Sewer Collection & Storm Drains.
NCPI recently completed and published an Operations & Maintenance Handbook. One of the features of this handbook is a guide to the use of aggressive cleaning techniques to reduce SSOs (Sanitary Sewer Overflows).
Stone Age Tools & Kent Carlson
Aggressive cleaning techniques applied within the structure of an SOP (Standard Operating Procedure), are proven to significantly reduce SSOs, restore the designed operational capacity, reduce maintenance costs and extend the service life of the entire system.
San Diego based contractor Ortiz Corporation, chooses trenchless sewer installation using Akkerman Guided Boring Equipment and No-Dig Pipe to help overcome difficult soils and high traffic install
Hydro-jetting is one of the most common and most effective forms of cleaning sewers. By pumping water through a hose and using high-pressure jets to do the work, hydro-jetting
removes debris and grease build ups, cuts roots, clears blockages and flushes the sewer pipe.
Municipalities across the country are rediscovering the value of the material properties of VCP.
A Midwest contractor completed a demanding deep shaft sanitary sewer upgrade using three-pass guided boring for the City of Fort Dodge, Iowa, to resolve infrastructure overloads, which led to a record no-dig installation.
A relief sewer in an urban area with mature trees presents many challenges. St. Clair Shores, MI eventually selected the Pilot Tube Method as the right, economical and ecological approach.
Pilot Tube and Vitrified Clay Jacking Pipe Lowest Cost, Best Option for Clinton Township, MI
Trenchless installation with Pilot Tube Method provides a powerful solution for active, urban cores.
National Clay Pipe Institute Marks 100th Anniversary Amidst Resurgence
Would you specify a sanitary sewer pipe that will rust, corrode, shrink, elongate, bend, deflect, erode, oxidize or deteriorate over time?
Why would an industry advocate price-only legislation for engineering projects? The greatest long-term ROI favors consideration of all material properties.
120 year old clay pipe proves VCP durability.
Find out how VCP contributes to a carefully coordinated effort that helps wastewater crews manage the largest collections system in the country.
The Lauritzen Gardens Project, preserving a sensitive area with a 585-foot single drive at depths reaching 50 feet. Omaha, Nebraska, stretches along the Missouri River for seven miles and is under a consent order with the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality to improve water quality in the river.
In the city of Tyler, Texas, a recently completed sanitary sewer project illustrates the water utility’s desire for both quality and value.
Kent Carlson’s “Weapons of Mass De-Obstruction” and much more about tools and processes used in the Los Angeles sewer system.
New Castle County, DE, has taken a proactive approach to its sewer maintenance needs over the last 30 years in order to provide better service to its 400,000 population and reduce the frequency and severity of its sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs).
Phoenix, Arizona, has experienced tremendous population growth over the years, which has taxed its collection system. Increased sewer flows from growth required larger diameter pipes to replace the smaller sizes to adequately accommodate these flows.
Seattle has negotiated a unique consent decree that allows it to target stormwater runoff projects ahead of CSOs and SSOs.
With more than 5 billion feet of VCP installed in municipalities around the U.S. over the last 200-years, the industry has many reasons for a positive outlook.
The city of Sergeant Bluff, IA selected trenchless installation even though it was not the lowest bid option.
How do municipalities, engineers and systems managers know which environmental claims are credible, which claims are misleading and which claims are just plain green-washing?
At a meeting of its Board of Directors, the National Clay Pipe Institute (NCPI) announced that Jeff Boschert has been promoted to president of the organization.
Pipe designers and installers seek third-party certification to verify environmentally sound products.
Innovative construction techniques can provide solutions to the problems of decaying underground infrastructure seen in many cities in the developed world.
Gladding, McBean involved in Art Exhibit in Lincoln, CA. April and May are Feats of Clay months in Lincoln. Now entering its 24th years, this celebration blends history and art in an exhibition of ceramic achievement. For full article please visit Lincoln News Messenger.
As engineers in the U.S. and Canada discover that the 100 –200-year old clay pipe in their systems is still in good shape, they revisit Vitrified Clay.
A new generation of engineers is learning why their predecessors specified more than 5 billion feet for the nation’s sewers. For some time, Portland’s Bureau of Environmental Services had been interested in modern clay pipe. Each material offers advantages and disadvantages for different applications, but the long life cycle of vitrified clay was attractive. For the full article please visit Public Works.
VCP has become the material of choice for some trenchless installation methods for many reasons, but the most commonly sited are a robust compressive strength, superior abrasion resistance and the longest lifecycle available. Vitrified Clay Pipe (VCP) has become the material of choice for some trenchless installation processes for many reasons, but the most commonly sited are a robust compressive strength, superior abrasion resistance and the longest lifecycle available. VCP is uniquely suited to pilot-tube microtunneling (PTMT), slurry microtunneling and static pipe bursting.
In Portland, OR, the past reveals the best way forward for a 2,000-mile sewer system. By 1883, the City had installed 15 miles of terra cotta pipe ranging in diameter from 9 to 18 inches.
Comparison of Old Clay Pipe versus New Clay Pipe.
The City of Riverside, CA used pipe bursting with VCP to address design challenges in a densely populated area.
Pilot tube installation of 15- and 24-inch pipe in the State of Washington. The small footprint of the pilot tube construction site allowed uninterrupted traffic flow.
Vitrified clay pipe meets the needs of today – fiscally, socially and environmentally. It is the original sustainable infrastructure product. In the Modern World, oftentimes we get caught up in the mindset that newer is better. Sometimes, however, proven and time-tested technologies and materials may be the best option. Take Clay Pipe, for example. The case for vitrified clay pipe (VCP) in modern sewer systems is gaining attention nationwide. Major systems across the United States are returning to VCP. As they have more experience with competitive products they evaluate what they have learned and opt to return to VCP both for what is has been for thousands of years and for what it has become: the best long-term value for sewer pipe.
The American private sector has long been aware of the concept of Asset Management. The manufacturing sector of the American economy has long been developing systematic, proactive maintenance and operational procedures designed to make them more efficient and cost competitive in today’s global economy. But these attitudes have been slow to penetrate public-sector management practices.
First introduced to the U.S. in 1995, this guided boring process has grown to include pipe sizes of up to 27-inches I.D. and drive lengths of more than 400 feet. This article includes a brief explanation of how the process works. Pilot tube microtunneling (PTMT) has been increasing in popularity year after year since it was first introduced in the United States in 1995. This guided-boring process has grown to become a replacement for the early small diameter auger microtunnel machines. The entire article is available at Trenchless Technology.
We have all purchased something new that we thought was a good value. We were assured that it would work just like the more expensive model. Over time, we found that our purchase failed to meet our expectations and we had to buy the more expensive model to be sure we received value for the money we spent. What we thought was an asset became a liability. We bought cheap and we paid the price.
According to the City of Logan, the West Regional Sewer Project consists of nearly 4 miles of sewer line and a new lift station.
Historical article detailing the development of the clay pipe industry in America and the standards associated with clay products.
Discussion of failure more analysis and its importance. Examples are primarily plastic pipe products. Good failure pictures in article.
Competitive Sealed Proposal Examines Pipe Materials in Bidding Process In the City of Tyler, Texas, a recently completed sanitary sewer project illustrates the water utility’s desire for both quality and value.
Phoenix, Ariz., has experienced tremendous population growth over the years, which has taxed its collection system. Increased sewer flows from growth required larger diameter pipes to replace the smaller sizes to adequately accommodate these flows.
When sliplining projects are planned, clay pipe doesn’t come up on the radar of design engineers. When sliplining projects are planned, clay pipe doesn’t come up on the radar of design engineers. Municipalities and engineers look to other pipe, such as fusible PVC and HDPE, to serve as the product pipe and can view clay pipe as an archaic choice.
Garret Richardson on upsizing a dilapidated sewer in a tricky residential area
Seattle has negotiated a unique consent decree that allows it to target stormwater runoff projects ahead of CSOs and SSOs
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