Brownwood is leading the pack when it comes to being on the cutting edge of waterworks projects with the use of their pipe bursting machine to replace old terracotta sewer lines at a more efficient and cost effective manner.
According to City of Brownwood Division Director of Public Works David Harris, cities including San Angelo, Abilene and Rowlett sent engineers and public works staff to watch a demonstration Thursday morning to see the machine used to burst the old pipes and then pull new lines through the old line’s position, in hopes to bring the process to their own cities soon. Harris stated that the engineer from Valley Forge, Pennsylvania that designed the replacement pipe along with representatives from the pipe company in Oklahoma City were at the job site to see real life application of their product in order to develop future product lines.
Harris stated that the City of Brownwood purchased the pipe bursting machine five years ago for $275,000 and have since replaced approximately 5 miles of pipelines within the city.
Brownwood was the first city in Texas to buy and run the equipment in Texas and to use city crews to pull an 8-inch line at that time, 5 years ago according to Harris. He stated that Brownwood was the first in the nation to use city crews to pull a 12-inch line approximately 18 months ago in a pipe bursting project along Stephen F. Austin in Brownwood.
Thursday morning’s project, approximately 278 feet of 6-inch diameter pipe, was burst and replaced with a 8-inch pipe, increasing capacity and flow characteristics which will allow for expansion of service in the area if needed in coming years. This pipe bursting project finished up hours ahead of schedule and saved manpower as well as dollars of the City of Brownwood’s budget said Harris. He explained that the job took a fraction of the time over traditional methods which would have included digging out the pipe, reapplying fill and setting the right gradient of the pipe. He stated that hours of labor, fuel cost and supplies were reduced by using the pipe bursting machine.
“We pulled 278 feet in just two hours which would have taken 3 days if we used the traditional open cut replacement,” said Harris. “This job cost us $23 per foot with city crews, compared to $50-60 per foot if we had contracted the job out. With an open cut, the pipe is cheaper, but labor costs are higher.”
He explained that the machine used for pipe bursting is a 35 horsepower diesel engine and probably used about a gallon of fuel during the 2 hour project. The traditional method would use an excavator that is a 60 horsepower engine and a backhoe that has a 90 horsepower engine. Either of these would have had to burn 3 days worth of fuel at a much less efficient rate.
Even the truck used to haul the machinery is a savings to the city. An old Texas Department of Transportation dump truck (1978 model) was purchased by the city years ago and was converted to the flat bed hauling truck for the machine explained Harris. The dump body was sold for $10,000 and a flat bed was able to be bought for the same amount, making an ideal means of transporting the equipment.
Harris stated that the pipe bursting method and machinery continues to help save the City of Brownwood crucial dollars and time.
“We’ve done close to five miles of pipe, every time saving money,” said Harris. “We don’t have more money in the budget but we’re getting more done with that same amount of money.”
Pictured above city engineers from Rowlett, Abilene, San Angelo and representatives of the pipe manufacturer observe the pipe bursting in action.
Below are more photos of the project.
The end of the pipe which was pulled through the 278 foot line.
Engineers from the City of Rowlett observe the process.
The expander which bursts the pipe and pulls the new pipe through the line.
An sample of what is left of the terracotta pipe which was probably installed in the 1940s according to Harris.
Harris visits with engineers from the City of Abilene.
The equipment loaded on the trailer after the pipe bursting.
Harris is pictured with college students Michael and Allen Hearn, who are both interested in the construction industry and came to observe the project. Their father, engineer Doug Hearn, designed the waste water treatment plant Brownwood is working to implement.
