Charter Township of Waterford

Oakland County, Michigan

Waterford

• 75,000 Population• 26,000+ Customer Accounts• 360 Miles of Water Main• 19 Production Wells• 2 Elevated and 1 Ground Storage Tanks• 12 Iron Filtration Plants• 355 Miles of Sanitary Sewer• 63 Sewage Lift Stations• 15 Township Buildings• 5 Township Cemeteries• 230 Vehicle Fleet

Waterford Township DPW Assets

Project Background• 2013 Pump Station

Rehabilitation

11 Pump Stations were

rehabilitated 2013-2016

• Bypass PumpingFlow was bypassed directly into forcemain. Constant flow at low velocity

• Sediment accumulatedLow velocity lead to accumulation of sediment in force mains.

• Design Standards Not MetNew pumps were notperforming to design standards

Cleaning force main pipes reduces operational costs:

•Asset managementPreventative maintenance extends the useful life of pipes

•Chemical demandReduce chemicals needed to battle Hydrogen Sulfide Issues – in turn leads to less customer complaints

•Pumping costsCan significantly increase flow or discharge rate

Why?

Sediments

Flow

Odor

Issues

Customer

complaints

Associated problems:

Traditional Cleaning Techniques

Cleaning devices:Pigs Swabs

• Incompatible with pipe bends and fittings.

• Requires Excavation to launch and receive pigs

• Customer service interruptions

Operational problems:

A patented innovative sustainable pipe cleaning technology to improve water quality and asset management

What is Ice Pigging?

How does it work?

Ice Pigging harnesses the characteristics of a semi-solid material

• An ice pig is a semi-solid material that can be pumped like a liquid

• But behaves like a solid once the pig is formed in the pipe

What Ice Pigging Can and Cannot Do:

Can:• Remove sediment, bio-film, and debris

• Be pumped in and out of hydrants

• Clean between 1-2 miles/day

• Clean up to 18 inch diameter pipes (larger possible)

• Safely clean all types of pipes, included coated/lined pipes

What Ice Pigging Can and Cannot Do:

Cannot:

• Remove heavy corrosion and tubercles

• Remove hard water deposits

• It is not a rehabilitation method

What is the Ice Pig?

Potable water typically coming from the utility

Food grade salt is added - Typically 5%

Chlorine for disinfection (customer request)

NSF certified

Ice Pigging

How it Works

Insert – hydrant or 2” tap

Discharge – hydrant or 2” tap

Isolate – valve off

Waterford Sanitary Sewage System

Findings

Observations• Biggest Gains where velocity <2 fps

• Minimal disturbance

• Operational Involvement is Critical

• No digs required where built-in bypasses

Questions?

Dan Stickel, PEdstickel@waterfordmi.gov