Concrete Pipe Leak Repair without Service Interruption

When a pipe or water retaining structure is leaking, it is critical to stop the leak as soon as possible. However, there are times when taking the pipeline or structure out of service in order to perform the repair is not feasible. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) has successfully repaired active leaks on large diameter concrete pipes and water retaining concrete structures without shutting down these pipelines or structures by externally injecting of polyurethane, acrylate, or epoxy resins into these leaking pipelines or structures. This paper describes this repair method in detail. It discusses the conditions that make the repair viable, materials used for the repair, equipment used to perform the injection, and the construction methodology. The ultimate success of this repair method relies on how the repair is executed. Detailed repair procedures and important factors that affect the effectiveness of the repair are also described. Additionally, this paper discusses the advantages, limitations, and performance of the repairs. Finally, an application example of this repair method is provided.