JTV Inc of St Petersburg has been awarded the contract for the relining project.

The City of Treasure Island Public Works Director Jim Murphy said that relining 5,900 feet (1.8 kilometres) of underground pipes on the Isle of Palms, Paradise Island and Sunset Beach using Trenchless Technology will save the council, as well as residents and businesses money.

“The old cut-and-cover method to replace sewer pipes, quite simply, costs a fortune. This is a considerably less expensive and more environmentally friendly way to upgrade Treasure Island’s sewer system.

“Every gallon of groundwater that seeps into a pipeline costs the city to treat. By reducing the amount of groundwater infiltration, our wastewater treatment costs go down. Saltwater intrusion – an additional treatment cost – is expected to be similarly reduced,” Mr Murphy said.

Article continues below…

The pipelining process will involve inserting a plastic tube inside the old pipeline, which is then heated under pressure. As the plastic expands, it will seal up the leaks in the damaged pipe.

The retrofit is expected to be completed by the end of September 2009.