Innovative Solutions for Urban Water Rehabilitation: A Trenchless Technology Success Story

A large municipality in Texas tackled the challenge of rehabilitating corroded underground potable water infrastructure at risk of failure. The 24-in. cast iron pipes had several areas where they had shifted from alignment. The project involved innovative solutions to address these complexities, including applying the spray-in-place pipe (SIPP) method using 100% solids, and high build epoxy. This technology, widely used in Europe but relatively new in the United States, involves high-pressure spraying of durable materials to coat the interior of pipes, even those with multiple bends. The owner conducted a thorough technology feasibility evaluation, selecting an experienced national contractor for the epoxy application. This paper emphasizes the challenges faced and presents the successful use of SIPP for rehabilitation, providing a valuable case study for utilities dealing with similar issues.