Hot Tapping and Plugging in New York City: A Method to Maintain Service and Protect the Marine Environment during Reconstruction of a Major Sewage Pumping Station and Treatment Plant

The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP) has been successfully using hot tapping and line stopping techniques at its sewage pumping station in Manhattan and water pollution control plant (WPCP) located in Brooklyn. These important installations provide a public service to a major sector of the population in the largest city in the United States thereby requiring that operations continue during their rehabilitation and reconstruction. This paper discusses the method and benefits derived from effectively applying the Hot Tapping and Plugging procedure. It was selected as the best alternative to address the need to maintain service and to protect the marine environment during repair and rehabilitation programs of pipelines and appurtenances within the pumping station and (WPCP) mentioned above. Discussion will also include how the method may be applied as a viable option to realize other types of work related to modification of various types of transmission pipe lines.