LATERAL PROBLEMS

The recent inflow and infiltration (I&I) reduction programs from the EPA have focused mostly on the repair and replacement of sewer and water mains. These programs like CMOM (Capacity Management Operation and Maintenance) have mandated several municipalities to reduce sanitary sewer overflows (SSO) and combined sewer overflows (CSO). The answer for many municipalities has been to line the failing sewer or water mains or to pipe burst the existing sewer and water mains. However, little attention had been focused on the problems with leaking and failing laterals (service lines to the homes or business).

The EPA has now determined that failing lateral service lines are responsible for much of the total I&I that is occurring in the sewer and water system. The solution for fixing I&I problems on the mains is not always the same solution to fixing the laterals. Often there is not enough capacity in the existing laterals to justify relining. Also, the laterals or service lines are often located underneath well-landscaped yards, an entryway, a shipping or receiving bay, a sidewalk or other obstacles. These factors play a big role in why pipe bursting for service laterals is continuing to grow at a rapid pace.

LATERAL PIPE BURSTING SOLUTION

Pipe bursting service laterals can significantly help reduce I&I and with the upsizing capabilities of the method, it is often a best solution for lateral I&I problems. PUCC has recently replaced several lateral services through bursting in Jacksonville, Fl. The method is fast, inexpensive (compared to dig and replace methods) and very valuable socially to the homeowners and business owners that were affected.

Lateral Pipe Bursting is accomplished with some very easy and quick steps:

• First, a pit is dug near the home to place our lateral bursting rig
• Second, a pit near the main line is dug
• Third, the main is disconnected from the service line
• Fourth, the bursting head is inserted into the existing line with the new HDPE attached.

Fifth, the new line is pulled through the existing line and the service lateral is connected to the main.

PUCC continues to utilize pipe bursting for laterals as often as possible. Lateral pipe bursting is a very cost effective and important method for overall I/I reduction.

SEWER SERVICE CONNECTIONS WHEN PIPE BURSTING SEWER LINES

Studies have shown that services account for roughly half of Inflow/Infiltration problems. Water tables in trenches are raised when problems associated with the main are corrected. So, if the service reconnects are not watertight, return on investment spent on correcting the main is diminished. Therefore, whenever possible hard reconnections at services are advisable when addressing Inflow/Infiltration problems. Most agree that a hard reconnect is the most cost effective method to solve Inflow/Infiltration problems.

Because service connections are fragmented along with the main during the pipe burst process, services associated with pipe bursting must be reconnected with a hard reconnect at the main.

The types of sewer connections to a sewer main are:

• Electrofuse Saddle
• Rubber Saddle
• PVC Saddle
• Inserta Tee (Registered Patent)