Have you ever had to repair a live sewer pipe under sidewalks, trees, streets, bridges, or waterways? Subsurface crews have and it can be very challenging. Now we have new equipment and a new process to streamline these repairs.
The subsurface maintenance group has recently purchased a new 50-ton pipe bursting machine. Pipe bursting is a trenchless method of replacing buried pipelines without the need for digging a traditional construction trench. Launching and receiving pits replace the trench used in conventional pipe-laying.
As a "no-dig process", pipe bursting is the perfect way for stormwater and wastewater collection systems to increase the capacity or to replace defective and leaking pipes. All of this is possible without extensive excavation and all the other costs of surface restoration. Because it is trenchless, pipe bursting is the preferred method for replacing old pipes in urban areas where disruption to nearby utilities, residences, businesses and the environment are considerations.
The subsurface groups have begun specialized training with this new equipment, and we anticipate full use of this new technology by late fall.