Leaky Sewer Line Repair in Michigan
Problem
The city of Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, experienced groundwater and soil infiltration in a sewer drainage line after a rehabilitation project was not properly sealed. The poorly sealed line also caused erosion of the surrounding soils which led to large voids and settlement in the asphalt pavement system of a road running above the sewer line.
Analysis
The city hired URETEK to evaluate the situation and offer a solution that would properly rehabilitate the sewer line once and for all. After close examination, URETEK determined that the source of the leak was a broken sewer saddle. Because the scope of damage extended into the surrounding soils and to the pavement above, URETEK elected to employ its URETEK Deep Injection® (UDI) method to seal the leaky joint and stabilize the soil.
Solution
First, URETEK technicians drilled small (5/8-inch) holes through the concrete wall. Next, they precisely injected URETEK 486 Star® polymer through each of the drilled holes. As the material expanded, it consolidated the weak soils, bonded uncompacted soil and open fissures, remediated voids, and sealed the leaking sewer saddle.
Result
URETEK successfully sealed the leaky joint and remediated the surrounding soil issues. Best of all to city managers, the entire repair project was completed in just six hours. By utilizing URETEK’s zero-excavation repair solution, the city of Grosse Pointe Farms saved roughly $59,000 and avoided a full week of major traffic rerouting.
URETEK Deep Injection® (UDI)
Widely referenced throughout our industry, UDI involves the injection of structural polymer into base and subgrade soils to increase the load bearing capacity. This is achieved by injecting the polymer through small holes drilled directly through the pavement structure to depths determined by site-specific analysis. Our URETEK 486 Star® material flows easily into voids and weak zones within the soil mass below. Through a controlled chemical reaction, the expanding polymer compacts surrounding soils and applies a controlled pressure on targeted areas of the affected pavement above. If needed, a multi-injection design plan is utilized to gently return the pavement to its original grade. The composite material quickly cures into a strong, dimensionally stable, and water-resistant geo-material, providing years of reliable service.
URETEK 486 Star®
URETEK 486 Star® polymer is a two-component, high-density, expanding thermoset polyurethane system. It was developed to be the ideal solution for under-sealing, void filling, lifting of settled pavement, stabilization and stiffening of weak soils, and for encapsulating and sealing buried infrastructure. URETEK 486 Star® is environmentally inert, non-toxic, and resists underground water erosion or weakening due to its industry-leading hydrophobic properties.
