Replacement of Raw Water Transmission Line with Fused Pipe System Provides Stable Water Supply to Historical City

Stamford, Texas, a small town of approximately 3,000 residents located 150 miles west of Dallas, was experiencing frequent leaks in its sole water supply line. The city sourced water from manmade, city-owned Lake Stamford, positioned 10 miles northeast of city limits. The existing line, an 18-inch concrete steel cylinder pipeline, was installed in the early 1950s and was becoming increasingly problematic due to multiple and frequent leaks and high cost of repairs, necessitating installation of a new pipeline. The new line was installed adjacent to the existing pipeline, following the existing 15-mile transmission main from the raw water pump station on the southeast edge of Lake Stamford to the water treatment plant (WTP) in the city of Stamford. Due to the remote location of the proposed line, fusion-welded PVC pipe was selected to minimize the possibility of leaks in the new pipeline (no gasketed joints) and utilize a material that the city crews were familiar with repairing if that became necessary during the lifetime of the 79,600-foot 14-inch main. Decreasing pressure classes of pipe were used along the route to reduce the cost of the pipe used in the project. Further detail on the planning and challenges of installing a new line in a narrow easement alongside a leaking pipeline that was required to stay in service during construction will be discussed within this paper.