Pittsburgh, PA - At Friday’s Board of Directors meeting, the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA) awarded its $8.4 million Rising Main 4 Improvements Project to Structural Preservation Systems LLC. This project, part of a suite of large-scale water system improvements called the Water Reliability Plan, will renew a key distribution pipe in our water system.
Rising Main 4, located in the Highland Park neighborhood, is a large diameter water main that moves water from Bruecken Pump Station to water storage systems in Highland Park. This project is phase two of our efforts, with rehabilitation of nearby Rising Main 3 wrapping up in winter of this year. The work on Rising Main 3 involved replacing approximately 1,900 feet of pipe and using trenchless technology to line over 3,800 feet of pipe. The same trenchless method will be used on Rising Main 4.
Technician installing liner in Rising Main 3. Similar work will occur on Rising Main 4.
As part of the Rising Main 4 project, crews will line 50-inch and 48-inch diameter steel pipe, and 48-inch diameter concrete pipe, with a carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP). This trenchless method of restoring the pipe from the inside was selected after the design process. Trenchless lining is a cost-effective and less disruptive method of rehabilitation. Some sections of the pipe that cannot be lined will be replaced by digging. Structural Preservation Systems LLC is one of a handful of firms nationwide with expertise in rehabilitating this length and diameter of pipe.
Crews will also complete additional condition assessment using electromagnetic technology on a portion of pipe that was not previously surveyed during the design process. Conducting this survey involves lowering a team of skilled technicians into the pipe where they will visually inspect its interior condition and perform a robotic inspection using electromagnetic waves to detect deficiencies in the pipe.
Exposed Rising Main 4. These pipes are among the largest in our system.
“We are excited to kick off the second phase of work on these large and critical rising mains. Renewing this aging infrastructure will ensure reliable service as we implement the massive Water Reliability Plan,” said PWSA CEO Will Pickering. “Financing this work with low-interest PENNVEST loans and low-interest federal loans anticipated from the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) will over time, reduce the burden on ratepayers.”
Construction is anticipated to begin in March 2023 and finish by end of year.
To learn more about this project, and other key upgrades that are part of the Water Reliability Plan, visit pgh2o.com/water-reliability-plan.
