Thompson Pump Aids in Sewer Replacement in Orlando, FL

In Orlando, Florida, Garney Construction was called upon to remove and replace a 24-inch sewer force main along Sand Lake Road. The construction work began at the busy intersection of International Drive and Sand Lake Road and went east to Universal Boulevard.

A temporary sewer bypass system, complete with air release valves, was designed to handle the flow of the existing force main while the contractor made the necessary repairs. Along with the temporary bypass system, Garney Construction knew that wellpointing would be required to remove the groundwater to install the new force main section. Garney chose to partner with Thompson Pump for the bypass and wellpointing because of the success experienced on past construction work.

Local Thompson Pump representatives delivered two 12” Rotary Wellpoint Pumps to the jobsite, with sound deadening curtain systems, in order to reduce the noise levels from the pumps as they would be installed very close to businesses, hotels and condominiums. The wellpoint system ran along the 1,800-feet of the jobsite from International Drive to Universal Boulevard along Sand Lake Road.

While the wellpoint systems were removing the groundwater for excavation, Thompson Pump crews from the Orlando, Sarasota and Port Orange, Florida branches were fusing the 1,800-feet of 18” HDPE (high density poly-ethylene) pipe, that would be used to bypass the existing force main. The HDPE pipe would connect to a working force main, and would bypass the main in need of repair. Further down Sand Lake Road, four more operating force mains would also connect to the temporary HDPE pipe bypass. The fusing of the HDPE pipe took about two days to complete.

Each 50’ length of pipe was brought to the fusing machine using a backhoe with a hook attachment. A chain was placed around the pipe and the backhoe lifted the pipe into position on the fusing machine. Once the pipe was in place, the fusing machine operator then used hydraulic controls to maneuver the new pipe closer to the pipe that had been already fused. The fusing machine was equipped with tractor-type wheels to move the machine around as well. With both sections of pipe in place, a cutting blade was inserted between the two pieces of pipe to ensure that both surfaces were completely smooth, and would mate properly – preventing any leaks.

Once both faces of pipe were cut smooth, a heating disc was then inserted between the pipes for the actual fusing. With each pipe face at the desired heat, the faces were held together by hydraulics applying 400-psi on the pipe connection. A lip would rise on both ends of the pipe as they were joined together. The crew would wait about 10 – 20 minutes, depending on the ambient temperature, for the pipe to cool. Once the pipe was cool to the touch, the fusing was complete. The fused pipe could then be moved allowing the next piece of pipe to be positioned. When the bypass is complete, sections of the fused HDPE pipe will be cut into approximately 20-foot lengths with a chainsaw, ready to be transported and fused again on another project.

Once the HDPE pipe was in place to bypass the force main, the construction of the force main went rapidly. The project was a great success thanks to Thompson Pump.