Swamp Pipeline—Design and Construction of a 66-in. Pipeline in Awful Ground Conditions

Standing water, seeping groundwater, flowing river oxbows, and poor soil conditions can present significant challenges for the design, construction, and operation of a large diameter water line. The Raw Water Pipeline for the Sabine River Authority of Texas (SRA) faced these challenges for the 7 mi of 66-in. water line. This paper will discuss design modifications and construction methods to mitigate these challenging ground conditions during construction and operations. Design considerations included modified trench sections, evaluation of embedment materials, and the use of filter fabric around the embedment. To mitigate concerns during construction, the contractor potholed ahead of the pipe laying operation, lined the right of way with dewatering pumps, and phased construction. This presentation will help engineers, contractors, and owners identify best practices for design and construction of a water line through poor ground conditions.