Water Main Project to Use Novel Repair Approach
A Wisconsin First: Lining Will Correct Problems with Little Digging
The Madison Water Utility is about to begin a project to upgrade a water main along Droster Road on the City's east side without digging up the entire street. The new technique will rehabilitate the existing main, which has been showing signs of deterioration, by inserting a liner through a minor excavation at one end of the main segment. This pilot project will be the first in the state to use the new trenchless method.
Residents will not have their street torn up, and water service will be only minimally interrupted when the work begins the week of October 3. While the liner is being installed for the entire main between E. Buckeye Road and Starker Avenue, a temporary above-ground water system will supply drinking water.
According to Water Utility engineer Adam Wiederhoeft, the new water main lining should last at least 50 years, and it is more cost-effective and less intrusive than traditional water main replacement methods. All the liner materials have been certified for use in drinking water systems. The project is expected to be completed in about a month.
More information about the project can be found at the Water Utility's website at www.cityofmadison.com/water or by calling the utility's engineering section at 266-4646.
Contacts
- Gail Gawenda, 266-9129