Trenchless Construction Technology Reduces Pollution: Green Technology Articles: Eco20/20

Trenchless Construction Technology Reduces Pollution

Trenchless construction is the name given to several good-for-the-environment alternatives to trench digging that are used to reduce traffic congestion and preserve local-area eco-systems, by rehabilitating old underground pipes or establishing new underground pipes without excavation or with only minimal excavation; thus reducing energy consumption and keeping roads and businesses in service during construction.

Trenchless Construction Options

* Trenchless pipe-insertion methods are often much more cost-effective than traditional dig and replace methods, but the options chosen will vary depending on the soil conditions, the local habitat preservation policies, and the requirements of the project.

* For new pipes, the options are generally divided into two classes: those that need a hole large enough for a person to enter with the equipment, and those that do not. Pipe-jacking and utility tunneling are methods in which workers might enter the hole to operate the tunneling equipment. Horizontal boring, directional drilling, and pipe ramming are among the processes that do not necessarily require a hole large enough for a person to enter.

* The options for rehabilitation of established pipes will include processes such as 'sliplining' and 'thermoforming', which both involve putting a new liner into an existing pipe; 'pipe-bursting', which uses a device that breaks a pipe into small pieces and pushes them into the surrounding soil to make room for a new pipe in the original hole; or 'cured in place', which is a process that uses special resins to form new, seamless, pipes within the old pipes.

The Environmental Benefits of Trenchless Technologies

* Trenchless options reduce carbon emissions from construction machinery, because they are more time-efficient and don't use as much heavy equipment as the open-cut trenching alternatives Trenchless options can provide overall cost savings of 25-50 percent.

* Trenchless construction helps limit the increase of emissions created by disrupted traffic through reducing or preventing the delays and detours commonly associated with roadside construction.

* The seamless pipe of a cured in place rehabilitation method helps prevent tree roots from penetrating and causing future damage that may eventually require cutting down the tree.

* Trenchless options don't require the digging up of heritage trees, or the root systems of local habitats; so they help preserve fragile ecosystems and wetlands.

* By reducing soil disruption, trenchless projects also reduce other forms of pollution, such as contaminated soil dispersal, blowing dust, or rain erosion and contaminated soils run-offs that can pollute streams, rivers and storm sewers.

* In addition to reducing carbon pollution and preventing the dispersal of contaminated soil, trenchless technologies, since they are much less noisy than open cut equipment; help to reduce noise pollution.

The environmental benefits of trenchless technologies are being recognized in every branch of the industry. Wetland environments, brush lands, parks, landscaped properties and ordinary yards may all benefit from trenchless pipe-replacement solutions.