Problem:

A 300-foot section of interceptor sewer pipe running alongside the Hillsborough River in the City of Tampa was experiencing reduced capacity due to a buildup of sand and grit. Access to the interceptor pipe was an issue due to the hard 115 degree turn of the connecting siphon.

Solution:

In mid-2018, the City of Tampa sought assistance from U.S. Submergent Technologies (USST) to remove the material. USST setup downstream on the southeast bank of the Hillsborough River. In order to access the 300-foot 48-inch diameter interceptor sewer pipe, the USST crew had to maneuver through a 360-foot 36-inch diameter siphon and parallel 20- inch diameter siphon under the river, with a 115-degree change in direction.

USST’s unique Combination3® truck with extended boom, dripless tube system, and jetter were utilized to travel the 360-foot length of siphon, navigate the 115-degree turn, and remove material from 300-feet of interceptor sewer pipe.

Results:

Almost 70-cubic yards of sand and grit was removed from the pipes, restoring more than 26% of its capacity, all while remaining in full operation.

“The exceptional ability of our equipment to make a 115-degree turn in submerged conditions and remove a significant amount of material while remaining operational is what separates us from others in the market,” said Denver Stutler, Jr., co-founder and CEO of USST. “I’m proud of our team and their effort to restore capacity, as well as our working relationship with the City of Tampa.”

View the entire case study here.