Xypex is recognized for Excellence in the Repair of The Macomb Sewer System.
The International Concrete Repair Institute (ICRI) is a 22 year old organization whose statement of purpose is “to improve the quality of concrete restoration, repair and protection through education of, and communication with its members.” Xypex is proud to have received such high recognition from this institute for its quality work on the Macomb Sewer System.
The Macomb Sewer System was constructed by the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) in the early 1970s. Since that time, the system has experienced deterioration of the sewer pipe due to hydrogen sulfide and ground movements. The sewer was inspected and areas were identified that required repair. Sewer inspections were done using man entry, CCTV inspections, geophysical multiple analysis of surface waves (MASW) methods, and test borings in isolated areas, and identified several reaches that required immediate repair.
The ability of Xypex to penetrate deep into the pipe’s concrete to repair, waterproof and protect it, even in the presence of moisture and a constant flow of raw sewage, made it the ideal product choice for this challenging environment. In addition, Xypex, through its crystalline technology, becomes an integral part of the concrete to also protect it against Hydrogen Sulphide attack.
A major design challenge was managing flow in the sewer to allow physical access to perform the repairs. Flow quantities, operation methods, and acceptable working conditions were identified to develop a flow control sequence. This included shutting down pumping stations on a temporary basis, operating existing flow control gates, and construction of flow control weirs within the sewer. A platform was constructed within the sewer to allow work to continue over the flow level. To control flow from one branch of the system, a large flow control structure was designed that included a drilled secant pier temporary earth retention system, groundwater dewatering, a cast-in-place concrete structure, and installation of a flow control gate. Given the urban location of the structure, support of an existing adjacent five-lane roadway, utility relocations, and traffic control were significant design aspects.