Situation
For more than a century, until 2013, seven 16” steel water mains conveyed drinking water from the main system in Belleville across the Passaic River to the neighboring North Arlington system, supplying both wholesale customers and residents in three towns.
Due to the river’s fluctuating tides and currents, the water mains never settled beneath the riverbed, but remained above it, subjecting them to constant harsh environmental and operational conditions. The result was major leaks and pressure loss that led the owner to decommission three of the seven water mains. The remaining four were rehabilitated with 12” HDPE IPS DR-11 liners and double-ball expansion joints at each water main connection to the Belleville main system, to allow for pipe movement.
In April 2023, however, the owner believed that the tidal forces of the river were putting sustained stress on the water mains, causing the HDPE liners to fail and creating an urgent emergency.
