Magazine
DCA/AGA workshop provides forum on wide range of topics
In late March, the Distribution Contractors Association (DCA) and the American Gas Association (AGA) held the 8th Annual DCA/AGA Workshop in Chicago, Ill. The event brought together some 150 gas distribution operators, contractors, manufacturers and other service providers to discuss and evaluate ways to communicate and collaborate effectively.
Newsline: Arkansas Valley clean water pipeline project starts construction after 60-year wait
Newsline: Arkansas Valley clean water pipeline project starts construction after 60-year wait; a DOJ probe finds Alabama ignored sewer issues in impoverished communities; Pittsburgh water rates could increase nearly 60% over next 3 years; and more.
Despite challenges, HDD market continues impressive growth
(UI) — The 25th Annual Underground Infrastructure HDD Survey provides insight into the complex, yet generally lucrative, world of directional boring. Indeed, HDD is a technology that continues to expand to even further heights. It has clearly demonstrated how the introduction and development of this disruptive technology forever changed the face of utility and pipeline construction.
GPR: From glaciers to conduits, digs deeper so you don’t have to
(UI) — The ability to accurately map underground or encased infrastructure allows construction and excavation professionals to plan groundbreaking and other destructive activities more efficiently. By knowing where not to dig, cut or core, these professionals eliminate the risks associated with striking buried utilities or severing structural components, such as rebar or post-tension cables.
B&B Underground and Drilling tackles reclaimed water project
(UI) — While many HDD companies perform strictly small-diameter fiber work, those focused on larger water and sewer utility work are specialty companies. Building a team for the task can be more challenging, too. That’s why B&B Underground and Drilling emphasizes the importance of training.
Editor’s Log: A fiber road paved by HDD
(UI) — By the late ‘90s, fiber backbone construction was marching across the land like Sherman to Atlanta. It was the early version of cryptocurrency – every investor was going to become a multi-millionaire overnight. The market for directional drills hit unprecedented – and unrealistic – highs. HDD was the perfect technology to aid the expansion of fiber installation, along with trenching and plowing. It was the telecom version of the early 1980s oil boom.
Rehab News
(UI) — The regional manager changes at Avanti and Aegion acquires trenchless water rehabilitation provider Infraspec Services.
Pneumatic piercing tool helps innovative utility solutions grow
Fiber installation business creates strong demand for stitch boring in residential areas
Trenchless methods: Trenchers remain valuable for utility construction
(UI) — In the 1970s, new residential developments were being built with all utilities underground. Of course, water, sewer, and gas lines always had been buried, but now telephone and electric dissertation wires were, too, as would cable television services that would come later.
Challenges become firsts in Chelsea River Crossing project
(UI) — What attracts many contractors to underground construction are the challenges they face. Contractors have the leading role in deciding on the course of events that they, alone, can control. As a result of overcoming challenges, technological firsts can be established.
Ice pigging offers low-risk, high-performance option for water system cleaning
(UI) — Park City, Utah, site of the 2002 Winter Olympics, is a 7,000-foot-high scenic wonder known for its sweeping mountain vistas, luxury homes and ski resorts, but its origins are literally more down to earth.
Newsline: US Judge temporarily blocks Biden’s Clean Water Rule in 24 states
Finalized in December, the Clean Water Act rule covering the waters of the United States, known as WOTUS, governs small streams, wetlands and other waterways nationwide. It repeals a Trump administration rule that was thrown out by federal courts.
Rehab technology: Canada’s King Road culvert rehab provides structural spray-on solution
(UI) — Beneath four lanes of traffic on King Road in York, Ontario, Canada, a deteriorated ellipse culvert needed rehabilitation. Now, the original structure will continue to deteriorate but is no longer cause for concern.
Editor's log: Ever gotten sick from smelling wet paint?
(UI) — Sewer rehabilitation is critical to the American infrastructure. Leading the way has been long-established cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) technology that essentially paved the road for a variety of modern rehab methods. But in recent years, the process, which has historically used styrene as the curing agent in liners, has come under direct assault for alleged health risks.
Orlando’s Richard Howard brought global view, acclaim to innovative public works program
During Richard Howard's tenure, Orlando’s Public Works department was increasingly known for its innovative, sometimes experimental and largely successful approaches to wastewater and stormwater management.
Utility and communications: Construction Update
Coming out of conference season, sentiment remains high, and supply of labor is the one constraint that is keeping the industry in check. We continue to see consistent investment in existing infrastructure and a healthy pipeline of bid opportunities for new construction.
Tech Tips: Locating underground assets
(UI) — As municipalities and other agencies embrace the concept of asset management for their underground infrastructure, locating and identifying those assets become more important. In the past, the options for locating and identifying underground assets were a challenge.
RehabZone continues to educate infrastructure industry
For 22 years, the RehabZone has been an integral element in the annual Underground Construction Technology International Conference & Exposition (UCT), and it was again, in February, at the 2023 event.
Underground Infrastructure Conference moves to OKC in 2024
(UI) — The 2024 Underground Construction Technology International Conference & Exhibition (UCT) is moving to a later date and a new location. UCT will be held March 19–21 at the just-opened Oklahoma City Convention Center.
Technical guide to variations of close-fit liners for mainline pipe
(UI) — Cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) has surpassed more than 52 years of successful and diversified installations. Over those years, the technology has advanced with development of new techniques and products that have influenced cost, quality and installation speed.
Cloud platform gives communities control over their revenue management destiny
(UI) — When the effects of rampant inflation became apparent in Nevada’s Virgin Valley Water District in 2022, a tank installation project budgeted for $2.4 million – similar to a $2-million-project completed in 2018 – received a bid of $3.6 million. So Chief Financial Officer Wes Smith set to work recalculating the projected cost of planned capital projects.
Convention preview: 2022 year of growth, diversification for NASSCO
NASSCO (National Association of Sewer Service Companies) expects to have a very productive year in 2023. The groundwork was set in 2022, when the association did an excellent job of recovering from “COVID fatigue,” according to association President Max Gowdy, “when members and staff adopted new ways to communicate, conduct business and achieve goals”
Rural water district finds success with fusion, HDPE technologies
(UI) — For decades, Randall Community Water District worked with PVC pipe, joining the pipe with bell gaskets. But when the water district was faced with a 3,000-foot bore that couldn’t be done with PVC, Manager Scott Pick realized he needed to find another solution.
Inside infrastructure: House Republicans move early on major energy package
When taking control of the House of Representatives in January, GOP leaders made it clear that a top priority in the 118th Congress would be to roll back some of the harmful climate change policy that was included in recent legislation backed by the Biden White House, and to reinstate commonsense policy that would “unleash American energy” and lower energy costs for American families.
Editor's Log: The Electric Buzz
(UI) — The tri-annual ConExpo/Con-Agg Show broke all its previous records, including attendance, with over 139,000 people registered. Overwhelming size aside, a tremendous amount of pent-up energy was expended at ConExpo.
HDD and HDPE — The Perfect Match
The latest revision of ASTM F1962, approved in 2022, contains a significant change by providing the physical properties for the most-recent, high-density polyethylene material, PE4710. This material is significantly tougher than older, previous polyethylene products, facilitating successful completion of more complicated, difficult maxi-HDD projects.
Rewiring Florida’s Intracoastal Movable Bridges Via HDD
(UI) — The Florida Department of Transportation operates and maintains 51 movable bridges throughout the state’s eastern and western intracoastal areas. And in many popular tourist destinations, city municipalities operate many more. These moveable bridges are critical for boat traffic and over-the-road vehicles.
Editor’s Log: Eyes Forward
(UI) — Recently, Underground Infrastructure magazine published its 26th Annual Municipal Sewer/Water Infrastructure Forecast & Market Analysis. Hard to believe I’m still authoring this research after all these years. Nonetheless, I still find the data both predictable and surprising at the same time.
Convention Review: Winners of the Underground Construction Awards Announced
(UI) — Innovative organizations and individuals spanning the diverse underground construction industry were honored when winners of the inaugural Underground Construction Awards were announced during the Underground Construction Technology International Conference and Exhibition (UCT) in Orlando, Fla.
Rehab News: Cherne Introduces World’s Largest Test Ball
(UI) — The 72- to 120-inch Test-Ball was carefully developed with an optimized design that offers improved performance and safety for blocking flow in the biggest pipes in sanitary and storm sewer systems.
- Intrepid Fiber breaks ground on fiber optic network in Superior, Colo.
- Excavator collides with I-95 overpass in Henrico, Va., causing multi-vehicle crash
- Shrewsbury, Mass., expands sewer inspections and cleaning efforts
- Construction worker killed in trench collapse near Prosperity, S.C.
- Two workers rescued after hours trapped in Mich. trench collapse
- Illinois overhauls Peoples Gas pipeline program, mandates focus on high-risk pipes
- Ameren Illinois to invest $140 million in natural gas pipeline replacement program
- Charlottesville, Va., to begin work on 24-inch water line for Rivanna River crossing
- Mass. governor slams Trump for ‘dangerous delay’ of $50 million in lead pipe replacement funds