St. Thomas Replaces Leaky Water Main with New PVC Pipe System
ST. THOMAS, Virgin Islands, Oct. 14, 2010 – The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority recently completed a two-phase project to upgrade and replace old and faulty ductile iron pipes with a new PVC water system on St. Thomas.
With a population of more than 51,000 and a heavy influx of visitors year round, St. Thomas functions as the tourism hub for the U.S. Virgin Islands, which include St. John and St. Croix. A safe, reliable supply of potable water is essential to maintaining the vibrant local economy.
In 2008, Virgin Island Water and Power Authority (WAPA) contacted Underground Solutions, Inc. (UGSI) to explore the feasibility of using PVC pipe to rehabilitate an existing 24-inch ductile iron water main beside St. Thomas Harbor. Installed during the 1970s, sections of the water main along the seawall abutting St. Thomas Harbor were experiencing an increasing rate of leaks, requiring costly and disruptive repairs along one of the busiest pedestrian and auto thoroughfares on the island.
WAPA selected 20-inch Fusible C-905® PVC pipe to be installed by a combination of slipline rehabilitation and open cut replacement. Corrosion resistance was a key factor in the selection process, given the direct proximity of the water main to the seawater. Corrosion of the old pipes had caused dirty water to seep into the area’s water supply.
GEC, LLC of St. Croix was awarded the contract by WAPA. Three segments of PVC pipe totaling 2,120 feet were sliplined, including a 1,000-foot section along and behind the seawall bulkhead. Five segments totaling 1,640 feet were installed by open cut to accommodate two storm drain crossings. UGSI performed all fusion services and provided construction supervision support to GEC throughout the project.
Lonnie Hartman, Project Manager for GEC, remarked, “We were very impressed with Fusible PVC pipe. The ability to minimize the number of connections and PVC’s corrosion resistance made it ideal for this application.”
Construction for the overall project was completed in mid-2010, with the lines pressure tested and placed into service. For more information on this project, go to www.undergroundsolutions.com.
More PVC pipe upgrades on the Virgin Islands have just been approved. On Sept. 23, the public works department agreed to release a $1.9-million federal stimulus grant for three wastewater projects, two for installing new gravity-feed sewer lines on St. Thomas, and one for new PVC lines on St. Croix to eliminate breaks, overflows, back-ups and blockages on existing lines in residential areas.
The Vinyl Institute represents the leading manufacturers involved in the production of PVC/vinyl resin in the United States, and promotes the value of PVC/vinyl products to society.
For more information on The Vinyl Institute, contact:
Jeffrey B. Palmer
Director of Marketing & Communications
The Vinyl Institute
571-970-3327
jpalmer@vinylinfo.org
Also go to: www.vinylindesign.com, www.vinylinfo.org, and www.achievegreen.net.