Meeting – Keith Rutherford, Parkhill, Smith & Cooper

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Guest Speaker

Keith Rutherford, P.E.

from Parkhill, Smith & Cooper

Senior Associate
Parkhill, Smith & Cooper

Topic: Trenchless Technology Saves El Paso

El Paso Water has over 2,100 miles of sewer lines varying in size from 6-inch to 66-inch. The Lower Valley Interceptor is a major interceptor in the EPWU system and carries approximately 10 MGD to the Roberto Bustamante WWTP. The 39-inch AC epoxy lined pipe was installed in the 1960s. Several joint failures led to erosion of the AC pipe around the joints, which over time, allowed soil from above the pipe to fall into the pipe and be transported downstream. The voids created as the soil fell into the failed pipe eventually became large enough that their presence was visible from the surface. Sags in the roadway eventually became holes in the pavement that revealed large underground caverns. The catastrophic failure of the pipe needed to be repaired as soon as possible to allow the interceptor to continue to flow and without creating new sinkholes in the neighborhood that would impede the day to day commute for the residents. Over 5,000 linear feet of CIPP was used parallel to the railroad tracks and within the neighborhood along with 24/7 by-pass pumping. Repair of the line proved to be difficult and challenging due to the location of the interceptor next to the railroad and overhead power lines. Adding to the difficulty was that over the years, residents had encroached onto EPWU R.O.W. by expanding their backyards to where the interceptor and several manholes where located within property fences and rock walls.