Emergency CIPP Rehab for Woodinville, Washington

In late October, a call from the Woodinville Water District in Washington rang my cell phone. The situation was an 8-in. concrete gravity sewer main that was failing.

This situation was not typical in the street situation. The 8-in. main was located 16 ft under a flood control embankment for the Snoqualmie River. To make the situation more challenging, the river was 30 ft from the embankment. Also, the river flow was at high levels for the rainy season. The segment also had issues of 100 percent sags and soil visible in multiple footage locations.

The teams from the district and Flow Technologies met onsite and planned the means, methods, and risks to completing this project. The sewer main was assessed using CCTV and precision dewatering equipment and techniques. This prevented further deterioration of the concrete pipe. The liner was then designed, ordered and wetout for the project. Extra care went into protecting the surrounding area and environment. This was done to prevent erosion of the flood embankment and vegetation.

Site Prep & Installation

After all risks were assessed, a plan was decided on and executed with cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) technology. The liner design was for 6 mil on finish cure. Careful site prep was then done to ensure little environment impact to the vegetation and root systems for the flood control. The Flow Technologies crew installed the pre-liner with a pull-in-place method. This helped protect the felt and resin migration.

The inversion equipment, supplied by Emagineered Solutions (The Shooter), was the weapon needed for the installation of the CIPP. An air inversion with positive air pressure at all times and no stops during the inversion.

The approach taken by Flow Technologies Inc. in rehabilitating the aging sewer main in Woodinville exemplifies the benefits of modern trenchless technology.

By utilizing The Shooter, the company not only addressed critical infrastructure needs but also prioritized the environmental well-being and existing flood controls. In addition, the minimal disruption to daily activities and the time-efficient execution of the project underscores the advantages of adopting advanced rehabilitation techniques in difficult locations/easements.

As districts like Woodinville continue to partner with innovative uses of trenchless technology, the importance of maintaining essential utility lines while minimizing disruption will only increase. Flow Technologies Inc commitment to leveraging state-of-the-art technologies sets a precedent for future projects. This demonstrates that it is possible to balance infrastructure needs with the preservation of the surrounding environment and existing systems. Therefore, this project serves as a model for other municipalities facing similar challenges without disrupting the surrounding environment.

Conclusion

The successful rehab of the sewer segment saves time and money for the district for what was an expensive emergency dig. Flow Technologies Inc looks forward to sharing this with surrounding municipalities and districts with same challenges to water ways with sewer easements.

In addition to minimizing disruption, trenchless rehabilitation is more time-efficient than traditional methods. The Shooter facilitates rapid mobilization and installation of CIPP. Significantly giving faster response timeline for emergency projects.

This efficiency not only mitigates the impact on the environment but also maximizes the benefits of the newly rehabilitated utilities.

Jarrod Gregory is vice president at Flow Technologies Inc.

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