www.epa.gov
Environmental Technology Verification Program
E
Environmental and Sustainable Technology Evaluations (ESTE):
Verification of Products and Technologies for Rehabilitation of Drinking Water
Distribution and Wastewater Collection Systems
Impact Statement
Approximately two million miles of water pipelines and
infrastructure exist in the United States, many of which
are reaching the end of their serviceable lives. There is
growing concern that our aging infrastructure does not
have the ability to sustain our future water needs. It is
estimated that one out of every six gallons of water in
drinking and wastewater distribution systems is lost
through leaky pipes before reaching consumers. The
U.S. Geological Survey estimates that leaky water and
wastewater utility pipes result in a loss of 1.7 trillion
gallons of water per year at a national cost of $2.6
billion per year in the United States alone (USGS).
This project will provide valuable information on the
performance characteristics of new and innovative
technologies for use in infrastructure rehabilitation. The
use of new technologies has historically been viewed as
a risk, especially by state and municipal governments.
Limited budget and other than favorable experiences
with new technologies in the past by public works
professionals have made it difficult for manufacturers of
innovative products to penetrate the marketplace.
ETV Program
The ETV Program operates as a public-private
partnership mainly through cooperative
agreements between EPA and private nonprofit
testing and evaluation organizations. These ETV
verification organizations work with EPA
technology experts to create efficient and
quality-assured testing procedures that verify the
performance of innovative technologies. ETV
operates six centers which cover a broad range
of environmental technology categories.
Vendors and others in the private sector, as well
as federal, state and local government agencies,
cost-share with EPA to complete priority ETV
protocols and verifications. In 2005, a new
element of ETV was initiated, Environmental
and Sustainable Technology Evaluations
(ESTE), in which the most important technology
categories for meeting EPA needs are verified
through contracts with verification
organizations. As an Agency priority, EPA has
developed an ESTE project to verify the
performance of chemical grouting materials,
coatings, and liners. See
http://www.epa.gov/etv/este.html for more
information.
These verifications will provide performance
information to help private utility companies as well as
government and other municipalities make informed
decisions on the purchase and use of current infrastructure rehabilitation technologies.
Background
This research supports EPA's Office of Research and Development's (ORD) National Risk Management
Research Laboratory (NRMRL) Water Supply and Water Resources Division's (WSWR) Aging Water
Infrastructure (AWI) Research Program. Verification testing is being conducted on three chemical
grouting materials used for reducing or eliminating infiltration of storm water to sanitary sewer systems.
This work will be followed by other verifications of other technologies determined by a stakeholder
group.
A large percent of infiltration and inflow (I/I) into sanitary sewer systems is due to leaks and cracks in
existing water infrastructure. I/I into sanitary sewer systems have burdened treatment facilities with
frequent overflows, causing public health concerns. Chemical grouting is a trenchless method that is used
to control leaks in underground water systems to restore them to normal operation.
www.epa.gov/etv
July 2011
-------
The chemical grouting materials being tested include acrylimaide, polyurethane, and a new polymer
mastic. Testing is being conducted on (1) pipe joints, (2) manhole joints, (3) pipe lateral connections, and
(4) concrete surface repair. The evaluation also includes the following:
Evaluation of the properties (working, physical, mechanical, durability, and leachability) of
grouts and grouted sands;
• Characterization of the bonding properties of the grout-substrate interaction;
Verification of the performance of grouted joints and repaired concrete cracks under hydrostatic
pressure up to 5 psi (10 feet of water) and wet/dry cycles over a period of three months.
Objectives
The expected outcomes and impacts of this project are to enhance acceptance of new and innovative
infrastructure rehabilitation technologies by those who issue permits, or regulate, specify, or advise others
in purchase or use of new technologies. The project will help utilities to more effectively implement
comprehensive asset management, provide reliable service to their customers, and meet their Clean Water
Act and Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
Status
A stakeholder meeting consisting of the EPA Office of Water, WERF, AWWARF, NASSCO, consulting
firms, vendors, and municipal utility companies met in June 2008. The selected target areas for primary
consideration were chemical grouts, coatings, and liners.
ETV's Water Quality Protection Center (WQP), along with National Sanitation Foundation International
(NSF) and the Center for Innovative Grouting Materials and Technology (CIGMAT) at the University of
Houston, developed a protocol for verification of grouting materials in 2004. The protocol is available on
ETV's website at http://www.epa.gov/nrmrl/std/etv/pubs/600r04183.pdf
Using the WQP grouting materials protocol as a template, individual test quality assurance plans
(TQAPs) were developed by ETV's ESTE program under a STREAMS contract by Research Triangle
Institute (RTI) with a sub-contract to NSF for three grouting materials vendors: Avanti International, Inc.,
Separations Systems Consultants, Inc., and Warren Environmental, Inc. Verification testing is being
conducted at CIGMAT; verification reports and statements are expected in September of 2011.
Related to this work, in September, 2010 ETV's WQP Center completed verifications for three coating
products used for infrastructure rehabilitation. The three participating vendors were Epoxytec
International, Inc., Protective Liner Systems, Inc., and Standard Cement Materials, Inc. The verification
reports and statements are available on ETV's website at: http://www.epa.gov/nrmrl/std/etv/vt-
wqp.html#irt.
For further information contact: References
Ray Frederick Hutson, S.S. et al, 2004, Estimated use of
5£ En™™mental Protection Agency water ifl ^ United §tates ifl 2000. ^ §
(Jmce or Research and Development „ , . , n „. , , ~^0
AT+• i D i AT +D UT u Geological Survey Circular 1268.
National Risk Management Research Laboratory ° J
Address: 2890 Woodbridge Avenue (MS-104) "
Phone: (732)321-6627
Fax:(732)321-6640
E-mail: frederick.ray@epa.gov
www.epa.gov/etv
July 2011
------- |