This project was located in Moreno Valley, California at the Eastern Municipal Water District’s (EMWD) facility. J.W. Fowler’s scope as the general contractor consisted of upgrades to the existing facility which included the installation of approximately 550 LF of 54-inch HDPE storm drain, 1300 LF 36-inch HDPE, 100 LF of 48-inch welded steel pipe, supply and installation of two 48-inch slide gaes in the existing chlorination basin, and some grading improvements to a drying bed pond.
The 150-feet sections of HDPE were welded together above ground by a process called fusion. Our team then lowered the pipe into the trench in sections and connected the pieces to the previously installed pipe sections. Welding the HDPE pipe above ground is not only a more cost-effective approach, but it also allows us to further mitigate safety risks by minimizing the amount of in-ditch fusions needed.
The flexible nature of HDPE pipe means it can me difficult to handle such large sections of pipe. While this can be a challenge, our team handles it well and instead uses the flexibility to facilitate the installation through trench shields and shoring.
