Sewerage & Water Board Of New Orleans Community & Intergovernmental Relations Department 625 St. Joseph Street, Room B-47 New Orleans, Louisiana 70165 504-585-2175
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 23, 2004
On Royal Street Wednesday
S&WB Gives Demonstration of Modern Pipe Replacement Method and Installation of Fiber Optic Conduit

The Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans on Wednesday gave a demonstration of a modern form of trenchless construction being used to replace broken sewer lines throughout the City.

"Pipe bursting" was demonstrated at the corner of Royal and St. Peter Streets, as the S&WB began replacement of a deteriorating sewer line on Royal, between St. Peter Street and Pirate’s Alley.

This construction method allows for the simultaneous installation of fiber optic conduit, which was also a part of the demonstration.

Pipe bursting is a trenchless method for replacing pipe by bursting it from within while simultaneously pulling in a new replacement pipe. The method involves the use of a static, pneumatic or hydraulic pipe bursting tool drawn through the inside of the pipe by a winch and cable or by pushing the pipe bursting tool through the host pipe.

With either method, the new pipe is attached behind the pipe bursting tool, and as the bursting tool breaks the old pipe, it pushes pipe fragments into the surrounding soil. Pipe bursting does not completely eliminate the need for digging trenches. Smaller holes must still be dug along the line at points where service connections for home or businesses enter the sewer line. However, the need for a major cut down the middle of a street, from block to block, is eliminated.

The fiber optic conduit component of the project is part of a CBD pilot study the Board is conducting with Renaissance Integrated Solutions (RIS). A Dual Process Rehabilitation Solution (DPR) allows for the installation of fiber optic conduit at the same time new sewer pipe is installed via the pipe bursting method.

Because the conduit runs on the exterior of the line, it is not exposed to harmful wastewater and other damaging elements in the sewer system. The exterior installation allows for easy access to fiber for servicing and allows for the routine cleaning of clogged sewer lines with traditional methods.

Once the leak-free, long-life, high-density polyethylene conduit is installed, it can be leased to communications service providers and create a new revenue stream to help offset the costs of the S&WB’s sewer rehabilitation expenses.

Participants in the demonstration included: S&WB management and staff, Montgomery Watson Harza, Boh Bros. Construction Company, RIS, potential leasers of fiber optic conduits and community and business representatives.

This project is part of a $585 million program to rehabilitate the sewage collection system throughout the City. The Board signed a consent decree with the USEPA in 1998 to study, evaluate and repair the system over a 12-year period. To date, the Board has spent $134.6 million for repair and replacement of mains, pipes and manholes and has met all construction deadlines set forth in the decree.