Tag Archives: Construction

Construction, Project & Construction Update

Construction Update: Stewart Creek Greenway Closure – Update #3

Charlotte Water crews are continuing their repairs along the Stewart Creek Greenway from a wastewater pipe that fell and broke into the eroded creek bank in early February.

Here’s an update on what crews have completed over the last couple of weeks, and what they are continuing to work on:

  • Installation of sheet piles completed
  • Site was prepared to begin the installation of new pipe
  • Remaining concrete pipe removed, broken, and hauled off site
  • Crews have installed 120 feet of pipe, and have 230 feet remaining.
  • If weather permits, they hope to have all of the pipe installed and ready for testing by the end of the week

Please continue to help our crews by adhering to the following safety measures:

  • Avoid the construction entrance at the intersection of Lela Avenue and Walnut Avenue near Litaker Avenue.
  • Toss in the toilet: only toilet paper.
  • Toss in the trash: paper towels, wipes, hair, cotton swabs, feminine products, dental floss, coffee grounds, and excess food.
  • Drain in the sink: soap suds, small amounts of foods from plate, and liquids.
  • Take to a full-service recycling center: used and expired oils and grease.
  • Suspect A Sewage Spill? Call 311 or 704-336-7600 say or select sewer emergency. We will respond 24 hours-a-day.
Construction, Project & Construction Update

Construction Update: Stewart Creek Greenway Closure – Update #2

Charlotte Water is continuing the extensive emergency wastewater pipe replacement under the Stewart Creek Greenway. Portions of the creek bank upstream and downstream of the broken pipe were stabilized to reduce the risk of erosion affecting wastewater pipes.

Here is an overview of what to expect in the coming weeks, and how you can help:

Ongoing:

  • The community’s wastewater is being pumped around the broken pipe from one manhole to the next one downstream. The pumps and temporary above-ground pipes are checked several times a day to prevent possible wastewater overflows.
  • Crews are currently removing the broken pipes.
  • Recent rains and rock formations have delayed our progress.

How You Can Help

  • Stay safe: Avoid the construction entrance at the intersection of Lela Avenue and Walnut Avenue near Litaker Avenue.
  • Toss in the toilet: only toilet paper.
  • Toss in the trash: paper towels, wipes, hair, cotton swabs, feminine products, dental floss, coffee grounds, and excess food.
  • Drain in the sink: soap suds, small amounts of foods from plate, and liquids.
  • Take to a full-service recycling center: used and expired oils and grease.
  • Suspect A Sewage Spill? Call 311 or 704-336-7600 say or select sewer emergency. We will respond 24 hours-a-day.

 

Construction, Project & Construction Update

Construction Update: Stewart Creek Greenway Closure – Update #1

Almost one month ago, Charlotte experienced heavy rains from a severe storm, which ultimately caused a creek bank to erode, leaving behind a broken wastewater pipe in the creek bank of Stewart Creek.

Over the past few weeks, crews have been working diligently to repair the pipe and creek bank. In order to do so, portions of the greenway have been closed so that crews are able to complete the necessary repairs. Signs have been placed along the two main entrances – the intersection of Lela Avenue and Walnut Avenue, and at the Tuckaseegee Road bridge.

The pipe has been uncovered and an area has been dug out in preparation to begin driving sheet piles. Sections of the original concrete pipe were cracked, in addition to being dislodged and blown out into the creek.

A section of the creek bank downstream of the repair area also suffered severe erosion from the creek. Our crews decided to clear a section of the bank to ensure that no pipe was exposed. A rock toe has been placed in the creek and the dirt removed from the blown-out section of the creek will be used to regrade and reinforce this area of the bank. This will help to prevent any potential blowout until later in the year, when a Storm Water project will readdress the erosion. The area will also be covered with turf-reinforcement, and imported fill will be brought in for back fill over the new 36″ sewer.

Thank you to all of the residents in this area for your patience during the greenway closure. Keep an eye on our blog in the coming weeks for continued updates!

Behind the Scenes, How Things Work

From the River to the Tap: Pipe Repair

It’s hard to believe the clean, fresh water that comes from your tap actually started its journey as a drop of water in the Catawba River.

 

Hundreds of Charlotte Water employees are part of that journey, and during National Drinking Water Week, we celebrate and recognize the vital role water plays in our community. Every day this week, we’ll meet one of those employees helping deliver water from the river to your tap.

 

Today, we go in the trenches to learn what it takes to keep the water flowing across the entire system.

“Charlotte Water employees really care about getting water to houses and businesses. We have a good group of people here. Every time a customer is out of water, our crews give 100 percent to get the water back on.”

Labor Crew Chief 2 Garry Williams leads a six-man crew, all focused on fixing water and sewer main breaks. When investigators find a potential problem, or a customer calls in with a concern, Garry and his crew head out, traveling with their detective skills, years of knowledge and an array of heavy and light construction equipment.

Garry Williams pic

“Most of the time, when it comes to emergencies, customers call in to 311 and we respond,” Garry said. “It’s either water shooting up in the air or bubbling in the street, or sewage backing up.”

Garry joined Charlotte Water 15 years ago, serving as a crew lead before moving up to chief. He’s also a detective, working hard to find the source of a problem and fix it quickly, while impacting as few customers as possible.

“Once we get on the scene, we investigate everything. First, we have to turn the water off to see what we are dealing with,” he said. “We look through our map books and programs that show the locations of all the water mains and water valves.”

Garry tries to isolate issues to as small an area possible. “When we can target the problem and turn off the water there, we’ll impact fewer customers. If we can’t find the source of the leak, we have to back up to the next valve, then the next, and every time we do that, we’re putting more and more customers out of water.”

The labor crews have specialized equipment to target leaks. One is a listener, similar to a big stethoscope that medical professionals use to listen to your heart and lungs. “We may see water bubbling up in one location, but that doesn’t mean that’s where the leak is. We can lay a listener on the ground and use the sounds we hear to find out exactly where the break is. That way, we can dig just in that area.”

After finding the leak and turning the water off, crews use electric or gas pumps to drain the water from the hole. That gives them a better view of the pipe to determine their next steps.

While he’s investigating, listening and digging, Garry is also working with customers. “Most of the time, customers already know there’s an issue and they’re looking for our trucks. Once we pull up, it’s ‘Are y’all turning the water off?’ ‘Yes,’ and most of the time they’re pretty cool with it.”

Finding the problem is just the beginning. “Once we do the investigating, we then have to determine how many people will be affected, how long the water will be off. If it will be off for a long time, we can get water delivered to the area. If there’s a day care or school impacted, we talk to those customers and help them figure out what to do. We really want to work with them.”

Not all pipe breaks are small jobs. Last week, Charlotte Water dealt with an issue with a fitting on a 54-inch water main that closed lanes on East Morehead Street in Dilworth. “This one was different,” Garry explained. “Most of the time, the water finds a place to go – it flows onto the street or out of drains – but once we got to this one, you couldn’t see any water leaking. The asphalt had lifted up into a huge, water-filled bubble. Once we removed the asphalt, everything was washed out underneath.”

Breaks like that can make for long days. That break took three crews more than 36 hours to repair, due to the size of the pipe, the work removing the broken area and replacing it, and digging up and fixing East Morehead Street.

Garry knows the City and works hard every day. “It’s personal to me. I was born and raised in Charlotte; it’s my city. I try to do what I can to make it a better city.”

Despite the long days and hard work, he loves his job. “I respect every employee in Charlotte Water. It’s the best job I’ve ever had. I really love what I do.”

He knows he’s making a difference. “The best part of my job is helping each customer. We pull into a neighborhood and they may be out of water. We really do feel like heroes on some days. As soon as the truck pulls up, customers are waiting for us. I love to see the smiles on their faces and it’s always, ‘Thank you. We appreciate you.’ I just really love that part of the job.”

To read the next step in the water process click here