June 22, 22 – Lake Mills, WI – HammerHead™ Trenchless Same Path™ technology now includes the the HydraSlitter™ system – the most economical and effective trenchless alternative to opencut replacement of lead potable water pipe 0.5 to 1.0 inches in diameter. HammerHead launched the system during this year’s American Waterworks Association ACE22 in San Antonio, Texas.
Nation-wide lead water line crisis
Josh Hood, Sr. Manager, Product Management and Support at HammerHead Trenchless, said that lead’s harmful effects were not well known until relatively recently.
“Federal guidelines and specifications sanctioned the manufacture and use of lead pipes for potable water into the 1950s,” he said. “And national plumbing codes permitted the use of lead water pipes into the 1970s and ‘80s.” It was not until 1986 that congress finally banned lead for use in new installation/construction.
The U.S. EPA enacted a water treatment technique regulation for lead in 1991 based on the use of orthophosphates to mitigate problems associated with lead contamination occurring from corrosive water.
Orthophosphates can create a protective mineral coating that keeps toxic lead stuck to pipes. “However,” Hood said, “the protective coating they provide is not a permanent solution.” Many local and state requirements call for its removal, and nearly every state has funding available to do so.
An estimated 6 to 10 million linear feet of lead pipe at or nearing the end of its useful life is still in service. Much of it exists as lateral service delivering potable water to private, residential customers. The U.S. goal is to replace all of it within the next 10 years, and $15 billion has been set aside from the infrastructure bill to address the lead crisis.
Hood said HammerHead is an industry leader in the innovation, manufacture and consultation of environmentally safe, minimally invasive pipe repair and replacement techniques. Its HydraSlitter kits are specifically designed to give pipe replacement professionals a safe, quick and reliable means of taking lead pipe laterals out of service.
Minimal equipment outlay, ease of use
Hood said the HydraSlitter system is simple, it is easy to learn and easy to use. Plus, “investment cost is super low, since you’re only buying tooling, not a machine.”
In most cases, the machine used to pull the tooling can be the same mini excavator that was used to dig the pit depending on ground conditions and length of run. Hood said, “Runs will generally be 40 or 50 feet, but 120 feet is the maximum length right now.”
Benefits of trenchless replacement vs open cut
Open cut techniques not only damage tree root systems but routinely require extensive excavation to remove the full length of pipe and then restoration of sidewalks, drives, retaining walls or other surface structures after the replacement pipe installation.
A trenchless pipe-slitting operation using HydraSlitter tooling provides a significantly less invasive process of lead pipe replacement. Drawn by a cable attached to a mini excavator with the cable grip provided in the kit, HydraSlitter tooling slits the lead pipe while simultaneously installing new product pipe into place as it progresses. The kits work with all replacement pipes.
Reduced project time and cost
Since the replacement pipe follows in the same path as the existing pipe, a trenchless replacement process greatly reduces disruption to daily routines, traffic or commerce. It reduces project time and cost by minimizing excavation, demolition and restoration requirements. It has no impact on tree root systems and significantly mitigates the risk of interfering with other utilities in shared easements.
HydraSlitter availability
Contractors can now select from two full-system HydraSlitter kits online. The kit arrives within just a few days containing exactly what the contractor needs for a job. Contents include the appropriate slitter, blades, expanders, cable, duct-rodder, and cable grip for the excavator, as well as a tooling assembly selection chart and instructions.
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About HammerHead Trenchless
HammerHead® Trenchless, a division of The Toro Company, manufactures and delivers a unique combination of rehabilitation, replacement and installation equipment and consumables for the underground construction market. Besides being a full solutions provider in rehabilitation and replacement, HammerHead also offers unmatched field support and project consultation to its customers worldwide. HammerHead products are proudly made in the U.S.A. and sold and serviced in more than sixty countries. For more information visit www.hammerheadtrenchless.com.com.com; 800.331.6653.
About The Toro Company
Founded in 1914, Toro is a leading worldwide provider of innovative solutions for the outdoor environment including turf maintenance, snow management, landscape, rental and specialty construction equipment, and irrigation solutions. Through a strong network of distributors, dealers, retailers and rental stores in more than 125 countries, Toro helps customers care for golf courses, sports fields, public green spaces, commercial and residential properties, construction sites and agricultural operations. To learn more, visit www.toro.com.
