Challenge of repairing rural waterlines in an urbanizing area
Problem
Bear Creek Water Association provides water and sewer services to around 50,000 people in Madison County, Mississippi. The system includes pipes of varying sizes. As urbanization increases, so do challenges with utilities like electric lines and sidewalks. Originally serving rural areas, BCWA now also serves subdivisions and commercial areas, leading to an increase in line repairs. The team primarily uses trackhoes and mini-excavators for repairs, although these can cause additional damage in some cases. BCWA sought alternative digging methods to minimize utility damage during repairs.
Solution
They found a solution in Madison County’s horizontal directional drilling crews’ use of vacuum excavators for precise digging with minimal ground disturbance. Seeing potential beyond potholing, BCWA, in 2017, purchased a Vermeer VX50 vacuum excavator, ideal for Madison County’s Yazoo Clay conditions and the depth of buried utilities, ranging from 3 to 6 feet. This acquisition enhanced efficiency in repairing water lines.
RESULT The BCWA team utilizes a vacuum excavator to dig around utilities. This approach helps to minimize the size of the repair working area and helps maintain a cleaner site. By using this method, the team has been able to eliminate the need to repour driveways, resod yards and incur additional costs from damaging nearby utility lines in certain situations. Furthermore, using a vacuum excavator provides a more efficient and less physically demanding method and the need for manual labor with shovels.
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