Innovative Approaches to Water Main Replacement: Navigating Environmental Concerns and Spatial Constraints in Davie, Florida

The City of Sunrise (COS), Florida, faced a complex challenge in replacing an existing Asbestos Cement (AC) water main and extending water service along SW 121st Avenue in the Town of Davie. This project encountered significant obstacles, including a narrow right-of-way, an existing equestrian, and nature trail and rejection of pipe bursting by the local regulatory agency as a mean to replace the AC watermain. To address these obstacles, the project team implemented a multi-faceted approach. Horizontal directional drilling (HDD) was employed in areas with limited space and along the equestrian trail to minimize surface disturbance. For the section along the nature trail, Close Tolerance Pipe Slurrification (CTPS), a newly EPA-approved technology for AC water main replacement, was utilized. This case study highlights the successful integration of CTPS, a relatively new trenchless technology, to overcome spatial constraints and comply with evolving environmental regulations. By employing CTPS, the COS effectively minimized disruption to community amenities while ensuring the safe replacement of aging infrastructure.