Sewer Pipe Lining

Cities with outdated sewer systems – those that warrant an entire system update – can be faced with repair costs totaling hundreds of millions of dollars (if not more).

Unfortunately for cities in these circumstances, intervention isn’t an option — it’s a requirement — otherwise, further sewer damage and expensive upkeep are sure to follow. With traditional trenching methods, replacing an entire municipal sewer system on the verge of collapse could cost upwards of $2 billion. This is partially because many sewer lines run beneath sidewalks, streets and buildings, so excavating a damaged line can be extremely costly, and sometimes even impossible.

Enter trenchless pipe lining — a solution allowing cities to restore sewer pipe lines that cannot be affordably dug out and manually replaced.

In contrast to the $2 billion price tag for a total replacement, a typical municipal sewer lining project will cost a few thousand dollars per line, and generally a few hundred thousand dollars in total. For example, a Sacramento sewer lining project we completed in 2014 cost roughly $600,000 total. While this is of course no small cost, in comparison to the alternative, these types of lining projects are much more affordable. The technologies used in lining cost more upfront than those used in trenching, but the landscaping, down-time and labor associated with traditional replacement are entirely avoided, resulting in a lower overall cost.