Key Takeaways:
- The Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority rehabilitated a major interceptor line in Wilkes-Barre using a new engineering technology to restore the line for $14 million, instead of the estimated $75 million or more for traditional excavation and replacement.
- The authority used steel-reinforced PVC to create a new standalone pipe within the existing line, allowing for a faster and more cost-effective solution.
- The project was made possible through collaboration with the Luzerne County Flood Protection Authority and funding from various sources, including federal and state grants and loans.
- The rehabilitated line is critical infrastructure that must remain functioning to service residents and protect the levee, and the authority will continue seeking grants to fund work on other segments of the interceptor.
Introduction to the Project
The Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority faced a significant challenge in rehabilitating a major interceptor line in Wilkes-Barre, which is located beneath the Wyoming Valley Levee. The aging reinforced concrete line, known as the East Side Interceptor, had reached the end of its service life after being installed in the 1960s. The line carries wastewater from approximately 100,000 residents in 19 municipalities to the authority’s treatment plant in Hanover Township. The traditional approach of excavating to remove and replace the line would have been costly, with an estimated price tag of $75 million or more, and would have required extensive permitting and protective measures to ensure the flood control system along the Susquehanna River was not compromised.
The Rehabilitation Solution
Instead of opting for the traditional approach, the authority deployed a new engineering technology to restore the one-mile line for $14 million. The solution involved using steel-reinforced PVC that interlocks as it is fed through manholes into the pipe, creating a new standalone pipe within the existing line. A machine was used to wind the large spools of PVC through the line, allowing crews to get inside during the installation. The authority’s Chief Technical Officer, Samantha Albert, noted that this solution was advantageous because it did not require the interceptor line to be completely dry, as it would have been necessary with a different type of liner that requires a "curing" process with heat to dry and harden.
Project Details and Collaboration
The section of line tackled in this project runs from the area of the Luzerne County Courthouse south to Riverside Drive. For the safety of crews, the contractor set up a temporary sewage bypass system to reduce the load passing through the line during installation. The project was completed by Georgia-based Ruby-Collins Inc., which has a specialized "trenchless division" to rehabilitate underground lines. The authority received funding for the project from various sources, including $2 million from Luzerne County Council’s federal American Rescue Plan Act funds, a federal STAG Clean Water Community Project Funding Grant, and a Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) loan. The Luzerne County Flood Protection Authority, which oversees the Wyoming Valley Levee, allowed access to land at the site to complete the project and was involved in the planning process from the start.
Importance of the Project and Future Plans
The rehabilitated line is critical infrastructure that must remain functioning to service residents and protect the levee. The authority’s Chief Technical Officer, Samantha Albert, emphasized the importance of protecting the environment and the public, stating that "we did not want this line to ever become compromised and impact the integrity of the levee." The authority will continue seeking grants to help fund work on other segments of the interceptor. The Luzerne County Flood Protection Authority’s executive director, Christopher Belleman, spoke favorably of the sanitary authority’s solution, noting that the flood authority has used a lining to address damaged piping in the past. Belleman also highlighted the importance of inspecting the pipes that run through the levee system every five years to keep the levee certified.
Conclusion and Future Implications
The successful rehabilitation of the East Side Interceptor line demonstrates the effectiveness of innovative engineering technologies in addressing aging infrastructure challenges. The collaboration between the Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority, the Luzerne County Flood Protection Authority, and various funding agencies has ensured the continued functionality of critical infrastructure, protecting both the environment and the public. As the authority continues to seek grants to fund work on other segments of the interceptor, it is likely that similar projects will be undertaken in the future, highlighting the importance of investing in infrastructure rehabilitation and maintenance to ensure the long-term sustainability of critical systems.
