Challenging Repair Complete

Earlier this spring, operators at our Red Hook Wastewater Resource Recovery Facility noticed a significant leak on a 36” steel suction pipe in the dry well chamber that houses the facility’s main sewage pumps. As a temporary solution, crews quickly encased the compromised suction pipe in reinforced concrete.

While the concrete temporarily stabilized and controlled the leak, it did not stop it. To complete the repair, crews sealed the leak from inside the compromised pipe by fabricating and installing a carbon fiber sleeve. The fix required a full shutdown of the facility, which is always a difficult and complex process because wastewater is continuously incoming and must be collected and stored during the shut-down period.

Thanks to careful planning, our staff coordinated five controlled facility shutdowns during low flow (overnight) periods so that no wastewater bypasses were necessary. In addition to installing the sleeve in the compromised suction line, crews also preemptively installed sleeves in the other four main sewage pump suction lines.

This repair would not have been possible without tremendous work and coordination from our operations, engineering, construction management, and machinist teams, as well as our job order contractor. Kudos to everyone!