In both rehabilitation projects, it was important that the lining could be realized with a wet pipe: In Newport Beach, the host pipe was in the tidal zone and below the water table. In the other coastal city, in Lompoc, the water table was very close to the surface as well.
Primus Line® to the rescue: Remedy of two broken pipes in California
Newport Beach
In the City of Newport Beach, Primus Line® was used for an emergency repair of a 12-inch asbestos cement water main with several 45° and 90° bends under the busy Pacific Coast Highway (PCH). The project site was at the 7-lane section of PCH located near Superior Boulevard. The main was critical since it delivers drinking water to the Newport Beach Peninsula.
After the contractor dug an exploratory pit to locate the main break, the Primus Line team began the urgent feasibility study for a successful pressure pipe rehabilitation. When the water main was inspected and the bends were located, the Primus Line Engineering Department deemed the 12-inch broken water main renewable using the medium pressure system on a length of 150 feet.
Small installation pit on the Pacific Coast Highway
The construction pit on the Pacific Coast Highway
The cut Primus Liner after insertion
The folded Primus Liner is inserted
The rehabilitated section is ready to be reintegrated into the network
The start pit before Primus Line insertion
Two fitters install the Primus Line connector
Lompoc
The critical 12-inch water main in Lompoc connects two cities on the coast in Central California. The 300 feet long part of the pipe to be rehabilitated passes under a creek and four bends with 45° and more.
Originally, the specification for the rehabilitation project was written for CIPP, but this technology ultimately struggled to compete with the number of bends and compromised pipe in the seasonal stream with infiltration.
Moreover, the specification stated the host pipe to be ductile iron. On site however, the installer found it to be made of asbestos cement. Since the inner diameters of ductile iron pipes and asbestos cement pipes differ, the installing company quickly purchased an adaptor to continue with a smooth realization of the rehabilitation.
The pipeline to be rehabilitated runs along the Californian coast
The host pipe is made of asbestos cement
The Primus Liner on its reel
The inserted Primus Liner with connector
The Primus Liner is brought to its round form with compressed air
Benefits for the operators
In both cases, the operators profited from the following Primus Line® features:
- Quick installation time – the insertion itself was completed in less than 20 minutes
- Bend-traversing capability
- Little impact on the environment thanks to small installation pits. Both pipes could be re-integrated into the network after only one day.
The two projects were carried out by Primus Line’s Certified Installation Partner (CSP) Advantage Reline, in Newport Beach additionally assisted by CSP TE Roberts.
