Project Overview
Project Overview
In conjunction with our commitment to providing cost-effective, safe water and environmentally sound wastewater services, the authority will be initiating a significant project to rehabilitate the existing sanitary sewer line infrastructure in areas of high water infiltration.
We have located breaks and defects in the sewer system, and they can allow storm, ground and other surface water to enter the system. We will be repairing the pipes; by removing these potential sources of water, we will conserve capacity in the sewer system, reduce costs and protect the environment.
In addition, we will be installing numerous service cleanouts in the designated easement area (right of way) at the street level, giving us a direct access point to each home’s main sewer line. The function of this cleanout is to give the Authority and plumbing professionals an easy-to-access point through which clogs and sewage backup in the main sewage line and service lateral can be reached.
The Process
We will be using a process called Cured-in-Place Pipe (CIPP) to repair the sewer lines, which is a more practical and cost-effective option that allows us to avoid complete sanitary sewer line replacement. This method offers structural restoration for the pipes without having to dig into the current pipeline.
Available for more than 50 years now, CIPP lining implementation is the most widely used method of trenchless rehabilitation and restoration worldwide for the repair of existing pipes; it leverages a textile liner tube and a liquid resin to accomplish its goals.
The CIPP liner is installed in the existing pipe by a process called “pull in place,” during which it is pulled through the pipes in need of attention (manhole to manhole). Once correctly aligned within the existing pipeline, either heat or UV rays are utilized to cure the resin and form a rigid pipe.
There are numerous advantages to this technology.
- Faster and More Efficient. The CIPP repair method takes much less time than replacing the pipes.
- Less Disruptive. Since this is a trenchless method, the overall disruption to your daily life is minimal during the process, and requires less rehabilitation to the site than does open-cut construction.
- More Cost-Effective. The very fact that there is no excavation needed makes it more cost-effective, less time-consuming, and more environmentally friendly. There is no waste to dispose of, as pipes can be repaired underground with no damage to any buildings, concrete or landscaping.
- Safer. Since CIPP repair is done completely underground, without excavation or large-scale pipe digging, making this upgrade to the infrastructure does not pose the same risks associated with traditional pipe repairs.
Project Schedule Details
You can enter your address into the tool below to see the details of the project as they relate to your address. This information will be updated weekly, so feel free to check back again to see the progress of the project.
The Savings
The sanitary sewer flows from this Authority to the Philadelphia Water Department. We pay for each gallon of water treated, so by reducing the flow of water, we will thereby reduce overall costs. To put this into perspective, during peak months, our monthly fees can approach $1,000,000. If we can reduce the total flow, we are able to save money that can be utilized for future projects that will improve our infrastructure and preserve the environment.
