Galveston's Life Line—Considerations When Designing an Aerial Crossing

Since the original settlement of Galveston Island, potable water has always been a critical resource necessary to support quality of life on the island. The Island's current water needs are primarily met from surface water sources provided from the main lands of Texas. This critical infrastructure consists of three pipelines: a 36-inch cast iron line dredged across the Intracoastal Waterway in 1894, a 30-inch cast iron line embedded in the historical causeway bridge in 1912 after the great 1900 storm that devastated the City, and the newest line, a 36-inch aerial steel line constructed above grade in 2000. The 36-inch steel line was constructed along the top of a historical causeway and paralleled the railroad. This line serves as the main source of water to Galveston, whereas the other lines provide the necessary back up during peak periods. This line is owned and maintained by the Gulf Coast Water Authority (GCWA), and is the surface water provider for Galveston County and the City of Galveston. Although, it is only 12 years old, the local marine environment has taken a toll on the condition of the 36-inch steel line. An assessment performed during a recent shut down revealed a number of conditions in the line, requiring the GCWA and Galveston to examine options for rehabilitation or replacement. This paper presents the findings from the condition assessment, discusses the issues believed to have impacted the performance of the line and concludes with a summary of recommendations made in this specific case to rehabilitate the steel water line. As part of the recommendations for rehabilitation, suggestions are presented for above grade installations in marine environments. These suggestions may serve as basic guidelines for future installations in similar conditions.