| Home > Rockville Reports Newsletter > 2010 > May-June > Inspection of City Water Main Continues |  |
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Inspection of City Water Main Continues  Work continues to inspect Rockville's main 24-inch water pipe that broke twice in July.A robot equipped with a high definition closed circuit television camera and electromagnetic capability is being used to aid engineers with efforts. Pure Technologies began inspection work Aug. 16 to investigate and assess the pre-stressed concrete cylinder pipe. The robot's electromagnetic technology will predict the number of prestressed wires that have broken in each section of pipe. Based on its findings, Pure Technologies will provide recommendations on whether pipe sections need immediate replacement and the long-term management of them. These improvements will be incorporated into the Capital Improvements Program (CIP). City crews will replace any section of pipe where it is beginning to fail and any nonfunctioning valves. The City has also been working to order materials necessary to repair and protect the main 24-inch distribution line, including a new hydraulic surge suppression tank. That new tank, which was already funded as part of the current CIP, is expected to be delivered by Oct. 1. The surge suppression system is necessary to protect the water transmission main from hydraulic surges, which occurred during the two breaks. The surges were the result of electrical power "blips" from Pepco to the water treatment plant. A specific cost associated with the water main has not yet been determined, as an inspection is still ongoing. The 24-inch pipe serves as the only water main connecting the City's Water Treatment Plant and the distribution system. Of the approximately 10.1 miles of 24-inch pipe, eight miles were constructed in 1958, which is when the City's water treatment plant was built. The remaining 2.1 miles of pipe were constructed in 1969. The City imposed water restrictions for its customers for three days following a break on July 7. Water supply levels reached critically low levels. Within 24 hours of the pipe and plant being back in service and lifting water restrictions, a second water main break occurred, on July 12, approximately 1,000 feet from the first water main break. Water restrictions were not imposed following the second break. Currently the City is using WSSC water to supply its customers. | ||||
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