THE PROBLEM:                 

Silicon Valley Clean Water’s Treatment Plant had operated for over 50 years and its infrastructure had reached the point where rehabilitation was needed.  The plant’s twin purifier and clarifier lines showed extensive corrosion and tuberculation build-up.  Buried under structures and embedded in concrete, repairing these lines posed significant accessibility challenges. The lines originated from 24” risers, descended 20’, executed a 90-degree turn into a 22” pipe, followed by a 45-degree bend, and then extended straight for approximately 100’ concluding with an 18” tee requiring a ‘confined space crew’ for access. Furthermore, access to the risers required the building of scaffolding from the rig outside the clarifier area and extending it over 40’ to the center of the pit. Our team also discovered substantial corrosion at the inflow section for 2’ leading to a tidal based water intrusion issue that required separate consideration.

OUR SOLUTION:

This project required more than one approach to achieve its goals. Spray in Place Solutions’ deep experience in trenchless pipe restoration allowed us to assist the team with the design and implementation of a multi-faceted game plan that could tackle the myriad of challenges posed by this complex project. The spray-in-place (SIPP) process was used in the risers, with hand trowelling addressing the most egregious infiltration points. A cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) liner was set with Warren Environmental’s epoxy along a 100’ foot expanse, tied off by a specialized hand-sprayed application by the ‘confined space crew’ at the end. By combining several ‘in-situ’ technologies, we addressed all of the issues, which translated into major cost savings for the client. Spray In Place Solutions completed the project in just a few weeks, during the dry season, allowing the plant to operate as needed by the community.