The consequences of Large Diameter Pipe failure

Do you know the major risks and consequences of a large diameter pipe failure?
Each day, thousands upon thousands of gallons of water are transported across counties and municipalities via large diameter pipes worldwide. As one of our most important resources, these water networks play a vital role in ensuring millions of people have access to fresh water, as well as a safe and dependable way to transport raw and wastewater materials. When working properly, large diameter pipes perform this function flawlessly, standing up to the demands of constant transport, and staying tough for years. However, should a large diameter pipe become compromised by corrosion or other forms of degradation there is a significant risk at play, especially if this damage is left undetected long enough for a full or partial failure to occur. Water main breaks can cause millions of dollars worth of damage to the surrounding area in record time, and result in serious hardships for the local community such as traffic shutdowns, property damage, and more.
As with most major incidents, prevention is the best form of protection. Using tools like CCTV technology to inspect the condition of large-diameter pipes makes it far easier to detect early signs of damage to your water lines, giving you the chance to step in and repair, or even reroute as necessary before failures occur. By catching issues as they begin to form, you can rest assured that your pipes will have a longer lifecycle and be able to perform their intended purpose with optimal efficiency day in and day out. Below, we’ll highlight some key factors that put large-diameter pipes at risk, as well as briefly discuss our EMIT tool for evaluation purposes. Read on to learn more!

The Devil’s in the Details
While there is no one factor that is guaranteed to cause the failure of large-diameter pipes, there are common factors that can affect your line faster than others. Key issues to be aware of include:

• Pipe geometry, material type, pipe and soil interactions, and installation quality. If your pipes are poorly placed or face adverse conditions, they are far more likely to sustain damage faster.

• Stress placed on the line by external loads, particularly where soil overburden stress, frost loads, and third-party damage are an issue. Each of these factors can place undue pressure on the line and lead to increased wear and tear.

• Corrosion caused by biochemical, microbiological, and electrochemical activities. Corrosion is one of the most pervasive issues facing pipelines today, and undetected it can lead to massive issues and costly failures.

Without proper and regular inspection, you run the risk of leaks and cracks caused by the above factors going undetected, eventually resulting in a much larger scale issue. Taking a preventative approach is the best way to protect yourself against dangerous failures and to ensure the optimal performance of your water mains.

How To Inspect to Protect

PICA Corp is proud to be a world leader when it comes to the safe and dependable evaluation of water mains, waste, and raw water lines. The EMIT tool, (see attached photo) crafted by our sister company Russell NDE Systems, offers a flexible, non-destructive evaluation of water and force mains ranging in size from 48 inches to over 90 inches in diameter, making it easy to conduct thorough assessments with minimal disruptions.

In addition, our CCTV tools (IBAK plus our very own 4k resolution cameras especially for large-diameter pipes) offer exceptional clarity and are suited for pipes from 8” to 90” in diameter. Smaller pipes can be inspected by the IBAK Mini which provides exceptional quality that allows you to easily detect blockages, cracked pipes, joint issues, tuberculation, and stuck valves.

Learn more about our EMIT and CCTV tools, as well as PICA’s inspection services by contacting our team today.