Over 2.5 Million LF of Fusible PVC™ Pipe Installed by Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD)

As utilities tackle the challenges of rehabilitating and expanding aging water distribution and wastewater collection networks, they are increasingly turning to trenchless installation methods to reduce costs and minimize disruption to the public. Horizontal directional drilling (HDD) continues to grow in acceptance as utilities gain experience with the method and the number of skilled HDD contractors continues to expand. In many areas HDD has closed the installation cost gap versus direct bury, leading most utilities and design engineers to contemplate HDD alternatives in the design phase of their projects.

Prior to 2004, the primary pipe material used in HDD municipal waterworks applications was HDPE, limiting available alternatives to utilities, engineers, and contractors. PVC pipe, already prevalent in many utility infrastructure networks, now accounts for more than 70% of the new water pipelines installed in the U.S. The steady growth of PVC pipe can be linked directly to its combination of high strength, light weight, corrosion resistance, and its proven performance record over the past half century in both potable water and wastewater applications. With its superior resistance to hydrocarbon permeation and oxidation by chlorine-based disinfectants, PVC pipe has proven to be an ideal choice to ensure safe, reliable drinking water with a long service life.

The convergence of these two major trends (adoption of trenchless methods and the shift to PVC pipe) has increasingly made Fusible PVC® pipe systems the optimal choice for many projects, allowing utilities to save money, maintain material and dimensional continuity, and simplify maintenance. Since its introduction in 2004, Fusible PVC™ pipe has gained rapid acceptance as a cost effective HDD solution through hundreds of competitive municipal and industrial project bids, and has established an outstanding operating record in over 1,500 installations in service.

One prominent national HDD contractor recently remarked: "Fusible PVC™ pipe is allowing us to establish new frontiers in HDD applications with plastic pipe. UGSI's project management, engineering, and construction support are outstanding and help ensure project success."

Milestones:

• More than 2.5 million LF installed by HDD
• More than 3,000 drills completed
• Long HDD crossings (uncased): 5,120' (10"), 6,400' (16"), 5,365' (24")
• Trenchless Technology 2010 New Installation Project of the Year

Fusible PVC™ Pipe Advantages versus HDPE:

• Use of standard fittings to re-connect to PVC and ductile iron pipe
• Eliminates electro-fused couplings or in-pit fusion of adaptors
• Simplifies maintenance and fittings inventory
• Ease of future maintenance by utility crews
• Smaller OD for given ID and pressure class
• Reduces HDD borehole diameter
• Eliminates expensive transition/reducer pieces
• Reduces size/cost of associated valves and fittings
• Greater pull strength and less pipe weight
• More than 2X the tensile strength and pull force of HDPE
• No relaxation period required for reconnection
• Often enables use of a smaller HDD rig
• Greater resistance to external loads for deep installations

Florida: >350,000' of 4"-30"	Johns Island, SC: 20,000' of 24"	Perth Amboy, NJ: 5,400' of 24"
Auckland, NZ: 3,420' of 20"	Portland Int'l Airport: 3,800' of 24" & 6"	Colorado: >100,000' of 4"-30"
Boston, MA: 1,150' bundle (6) of 8"	Minnesota: >160,000' of 6"-20"	Itasca, IL: 750' of 30"
Wakpala, SD: 4,800' of 24"	Green Bay, WI: 6,100' 10" bundles	Parris Island, SC: 6,400' of 16"