THE PROBLEM:                 

In 2017, East Brunswick, NJ was faced with 5700 LF of Asbestos Cement Pipe (ACP) Sewer Force Main with significant leaks and infiltration.  The pipes were buried under the water table leading to Infiltration/Inflow (I/I) and posing environmental concerns. The New Jersey Environmental Protection Agency had told the municipality that it could not simply abandon the pipe in place due to the asbestos contamination risk to the ground water.   For advice, East Brunswick turned to a utility service division of Suez SA (Suez), the world’s largest water utility.

OUR SOLUTION:

Suez had a long history of working with the team at Spray In Place Solutions on complex pipe rehabilitation projects for municipal clients across the country.  They hired us to execute the repairs with them.

Spray In Place Solutions first conducted a robotic camera inspection which revealed sections of the pipe that were leaking from joints as well as deteriorated sections of the pipe walls themselves. 

In consultation with Suez, it was determined that there was a need for different types of in-situ patches; Rausch USA QuickLock Point Repairs at certain joints and CIPP bladder patches at leaks along the pipe wall. Taking into account the local tidal flows, each patch was installed, and CCTV camera footage was taken to ensure that the pipe was fully sealed.

With the patches installed and acting as a stent, or cast, Spray in Place Solutions applied one monolithic coating of Warren Environmental’s certified, aquatic safe, high-build epoxy in a single coat throughout the entire length of the pipe.  Using our ‘SIPP’ technology, this process fully encapsulated all patches and asbestos, preventing any further interaction between the pipe and the ground water while turning the previously damaged sections of pipe into the strongest sections.

Despite the severe infiltration, unique patches and overspray requirements, we were able to successfully rehabilitate these pipes at less than just the cost of removing the asbestos pipes, not even factoring the costs of purchasing, trenching and laying new pipes.