Solution

Massachusetts Water Resource Authority, Walnut Hill Treatment Plant, Cosgrove Intake Pipeline

Marlborough, MA

Service: Structural Rehabilitation
Market: Water/Wastewater
Keywords: Failure Investigation, Pipeline

Completion

2004
Massachusetts Water Resource Authority, Walnut Hill Treatment Plant, Cosgrove Intake Pipeline
Massachusetts Water Resource Authority, Walnut Hill Treatment Plant, Cosgrove Intake Pipeline
Massachusetts Water Resource Authority, Walnut Hill Treatment Plant, Cosgrove Intake Pipeline

The Cosgrove Intake pipeline, a 144 in. dia. prestressed concrete cylinder pipe (PCCP), at MWRA’s Walnut Hill Water Treatment Plant Project was completed in early 2004 as a part of the water supply system for the City of Boston. Less than a year after construction of the pipeline, a large leak of approximately 700 gpm developed near a deep manhole chamber in a section of the pipeline with multiple elbows. SGH provided emergency response and evaluated the risk of failure resulting from the leak, inspected the pipeline to determine the cause of the leak, and developed a repair scheme.

Scope | Solutions

For this project, SGH:

  • Performed internal inspection of the leaking pipe using a diver during a brief shutdown while the line was in operation
  • Evaluated the structural safety due to the combined effects of internal pressure, dead loads, prestress, and hydraulic pressure-induced thrust at elbows
  • Internally inspected and measured all harnessed joints to determine if any joints opened more than the design limits, inspected the pipeline for visible signs of anomalies, and externally inspected the leaking joint
  • Designed repairs that included welding of the leaking joint and soil grouting.

Project Contact(s)

Paul Kelley

Paul Kelley

Flip Sharff

Phillip Sharff