Instead of digging a trench along the entire length of the sewer line that is to be replaced, removing it and then replacing it with a new pipe, trenchless sewer lining repair involves very little excavation that needs to be performed. This means your township’s yards, landscaping, roadways, parking lots, driveways, or sidewalks do not need to be dug up in order to reach the compromised sewer pipe.
Additional benefits of trenchless sewer line repair include:
- Faster repair process, usually completed in one to two days
- Less expensive than traditional sewer line replacement
- No need to fill in large trenches
With many different companies and products in the sewer lining repair market today, how do you choose the best product for sewer lining repair?
ART is able to provide an extensive line of products and services that are designed specifically for water and wastewater structure rehabilitation. We are proud to be a long-standing OBIC certified installer, as OBIC products are simply the best product available to protect the interior of structures from chemical attack, abrasives, infiltration and exfiltration.
OBIC products are severe service liners used to prevent highly corrosive environments due to Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) from continued microbial decay and chemical attack to structures. Unlike some competitive materials, OBIC products are strong enough to withstand extreme temperatures and heavy traffic while still retaining enough flexibility to prevent cracking from concrete/soil movement. This characteristic allows them to have a much longer service life than other materials on the market.
OBIC has published several blog posts discussing I & I and its negative effect on the operating cost of the treatment plant as well as the plant’s permitted capacity issues. Some of the ancillary issues caused with aging sewer structures include:
- CSO’s – There remain more than 800 municipalities with combined sewer systems installed that use a single pipe to collect both wastewater and stormwater. During a rain or snow melt event, the amount of combined flow can exceed the operating capacity of the wastewater plant resulting in an overflow discharge of untreated wastewater from the treatment plant.
- Failing infrastructure causing sinkholes, discharges and overflows can have a negative effect on tourism reputation.
- Likewise, those problems can give a municipality a negative reputation affecting real estate values or in the case of industry can cause the loss of a new plant facility or expansion if the sewer and water systems are seen as outdated.
- Coastal communities or locations with discharge into lakes or rivers can face pollution problems affecting drinking water sources or that can contribute to algae growth, red tide, coral reef degradation, etc.
The biggest misconception about how to rehab sewers is the belief that the best utilization of the taxpayers money is to rehab with the lowest price product. Roughly 50% of all manhole rehab is done utilizing cement as the rehab product. Cementitious materials are typically the lowest cost, however, their life expectancy is shorter. This results in multiple repeat cement rehab jobs versus one quality polymer job. Ultimately, your taxpayers will pay more over the long run with repeat cement rehab. OBIC products deliver an affordable, long-lasting solution with a high return on investment.
To learn more about how we accomplish this, read our project highlight blog post, “A rich history above ground, an aging sewer system below.”
Another important differentiator between OBIC and other products on the market is that OBIC products are resistant to chemical attack from gases, and corrosive agents typically present in sewer system environments.
They have been evaluated in third party testing known as Severe Wastewater Analysis Test – ASTM G210 (SWAT). This test report summary stated – Both the coated steel and coated concrete specimens appeared unaffected except for slight surface-only discoloration, Appendix A (steel) and B (concrete). Visually there was only slight discoloration, no delamination, no blistering or cracking was observed on any of the exposed specimens.
In addition, the flexible characteristic of the OBIC lining system is highly effective against impingement and slurry abrasion as it absorbs the energy of the particle impact and deflects those abrasive particles. Abrasive testing of OBIC is completed by third party laboratories utilizing ASTM D4060 Standards. With all of these proof points, the choice for your next sewer lining repair should be clear!
ART is an OBIC certified installer and can offer high-quality, cost-effective alternatives to the replacement of sewer infrastructure including manholes, lift stations, and treatment plant facilities. OBIC lining systems are designed to extend the life of the structure by 50 years or longer, and all ART-installed multi-layer systems and OBIC Armor systems include a 10-year manufacturing warranty. For more information, or to schedule a free, customized product demonstration, call 419-636-2684.
