Last month on February 7, Crews responded to a wastewater overflow and found a leaking water pipe under the railroad crossing on Central Avenue. Below is an overview of key steps required to complete the work and reopen the road.
Completed steps
• Stopped a wastewater overflow and found a leaking water main that contributed to the overflow and was not showing above ground.
• Installed a water valve to maintain service to customers.
• Turned off leaking portion of the water pipe.
• Inspected drinking water, wastewater pipes and storm drains to identify all necessary repairs.
• Installed another valve for pipe installation process.
• Installed new water pipes to maintain service long-term.
• Disconnect the leaking pipe from the water system.
• Excavate and replace an old brick manhole with a new precast concrete manhole.
Ongoing Steps
• Add a new lining in wastewater pipes under railroad easement at a future date.
• Excavate and repair storm drain pipes under railroad crossing. Additional work required at a later date.
• Rebuild and reopen the road.
All of this while maintaining railroad for daily use by CSX. These repairs require extensive coordination with CSX and Charlotte Department of Transportation (CDOT). The goal is to maintain water service and access to businesses during the repair effort. Local traffic can drive around signs to access open businesses. Crews estimate completing the work around March 17th.
On Thursday, July 7th, a customer called about a manhole on Central Avenue. A rapid response crew was dispatched to investigate Thursday morning and found that the manhole needed a new top and interior cleaning due to grease build-up. Crews returned Friday and additional investigations found that the wastewater pipe was leaking 17 feet below ground and the only option was to the close the road.
Crews set up temporary pumps to maintain wastewater service and prevent a larger wastewater spill.
A drinking water pipe is very close to the work area and is being relocated to reduce water outages for customers during the pipe and manhole replacement effort.
Two new valves were installed to maintain water service to businesses.
Traffic detours were implemented, which impacted residents in the area significantly. We understand how inconvenient they are. CLTWater made every effort to work in the zone, but a road closure was necessary to finish the work as quickly, safely, and efficiently as possible.
This is one of many areas in Charlotte that is growing. It is essential that CLTWater continues this work of maintaining and rehabilitation our critical infrastructure so it can support development in the City.
Schedule
Friday, July 15th, 2022
Crews replaced a wastewater manhole due to the brick structure beginning to break.
Weekend
Storm water pipes had to be removed to complete this work and will be replaced.
20 feet of drinking water pipe will be relocated and put back in service.
Tuesday
Crews will rebuild the road by adding new soil and compacting it in preparation for repaving.
Crews will mill and pave the road in preparation to restripe and reopen late Tuesday or Wednesday, weather permitting.
Top photos – View of collapsing manhole with a hose inside to pump wastewater out to maintain service.
Large photo – A new (red) valve was installed to turn off the water in the construction zone and keep water service on for businesses.
Charlotte Water Completes Remount Water Main Pipe Break Repair, New Pipe Placed into Service
The newly installed pipe was treated and water quality tests were performed before pipe activation.
(Charlotte, N.C.) On Monday, February 14, Charlotte Water crews reactivated the section of 36-inch ductile iron pipe newly installed under Irwin Creek near Remount Road bridge, putting the new water main pipe into service. Crews have been working since November 2021 to repair, remove and replace the previous pipe damaged in a break in October 2021.
During the extensive repair, crews replaced more than 250 feet of pipe. Charlotte Water collaborated closely with County and City partners to protect the integrity of the bridge, the quality of the creek, and the safety of the crews working in the complex location. With the pipe repair completed, Charlotte Water crews will continue site clean-up and restoration for the next few weeks. Charlotte Water will continue to evaluate 21,000 feet of the remaining 36-inch pipe for any possible defects.
“Every day, Charlotte Water routinely repairs and maintains water and sewer pipes across our entire service area,” says Charlotte Water Director Angela Charles. “It’s important that we are doing all that we can to keep customers’ trust in our ability to provide clean, safe and reliable water service to the Charlotte region.”
In 2021, Charlotte Water installed or rehabilitated more than 66,000 feet of pipe across the water system and invested $395.4 million into capital project improvements.
To stay up to date on the most recent events and announcements, follow Charlotte Water on Twitter @CLTWater. For more information on other pipe replacement and restoration projects, visit us at CharlotteWater.org.
Updates November 2021
Charlotte Water crews have been removing and replacing the 36-inch water main pipe that was damaged during the Remount water main break on October 18. While work is expected to continue for the next few weeks, here are a few things you should know about this break, and overall pipe leaks and repair.
Fast Facts:
WHAT is the cause of the Remount Water main break? There are several factors that can cause a pipe to break, including change in temperature, age and external damage. In this case, because it is underground and several feet beneath a creek, it’s hard to determine the exact cause of this pipe break.
WHEN will the repair be completed? Crews have removed the broken pipe and are replacing it with the new ductile iron pipe. Work is expected to take a few weeks, primarily due to the location, as crews carefully work in the creek and around the bridge.
WHY am I seeing other leaks? Charlotte Water crews regularly respond to a variety of leaks that are categorized as minor, priority or emergency. We then work quickly to resolve the issue and restore service to customers. Most repairs are on service lines (between the water main under the street and the customer’s water meter). Did you know that under many of our major roads there are multiple water pipes serving different areas of the county?
WHO should I call if I see a leak? If you see or suspect a leak, call 3-1-1 or 704-336-7600 so that Charlotte Water can quickly dispatch a crew to the location.
WHERE can I go to learn more about Charlotte Water pipe repair and rehabilitation? Charlotte Water staff are working 24/7 to maintain more than 8,000 miles of water and wastewater pipes. To learn more about a water and sewer improvement project near you, visit the Projects page at charlottewater.org.
Over the past year, as the world seemed to slow down and almost stop at times, it simultaneously seemed like the workload never missed a beat. As the pandemic ramped up last spring and into the summer, so did our work orders. Due to the pandemic and our crews working staggered shifts, the number of work orders was on the rise.
But when the work needs to get done, it’s “all hands on deck” for our Charlotte Water crews. Over the past several months, our crews have begun conducting a “leak blitz” during one weekend each month to reduce work orders’ backlog. This means that our crews will develop a list of priority leaks to complete throughout the weekend. Approximately 24 crews are assigned to work on the leaks, while other crews are assigned to work on emergency-only leaks as they arise. In some cases, they have completed up to 50 leaks during a leak blitz weekend.
Our most recent leak blitz was this past weekend, February 20th and 21st. Crews were able to catch a break in the rain and get out to fix 29 leaks and counting, with a few work orders still pending. Thanks to our crews’ tremendous effort and hard work, they have been able to reduce the backlog of work orders and will continue to perform leak blitz’s in the coming months to stay ahead of the curve.
Learn more about how our staff prioritizes leaks, and how to protect your pipes during the winter months by reading our blog, and be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram for the latest information from Charlotte Water. To report a leak in your area, please call 311 directly.
