Sewer Bypass Allows Gravity Sewer Pipes to be Repaired in Louisville, KY

Travel anywhere across the country and you will hear the same story, the city’s infrastructure is getting older and wearing out. Maintaining these infrastructures is imperative to keeping municipalities running. That’s why billions of dollars are spent on upgrading and fixing failing roads, bridges, pipes and utility lines, sewer and water systems, and much more. 

Take for instance Louisville, Kentucky, when its existing gravity sewer pipes began to wear out, the Municipal Sewer District (MSD) leaders knew the pipes needed to be repaired right away.

By: Mark Singleton, North Central Regional Manager for Thompson Pump and Manufacturing Company

CHALLENGE

Louisville MSD knew repairing the pipes would not be an easy task. The existing gravity sewer system needed its pipes re-lined; however, the pipes ran underneath Main Street, a heavy traffic and bustling business district. The MSD had to devise a way to keep the system working and re-line the pipes without causing too much disruption to the area’s businesses and traffic. 

SOLUTION

To help, the MSD contacted Blue Tank & Pump Rental, a Thompson Pump distributor. The teams quickly determined a sewer bypass would be needed using three of Thompson Pump and Manufacturing Company’s high-performance 8JSCE pumps. Each with a maximum head of 273 feet, a maximum capacity of 3,200 gallons per minute, three-inch solids handling, an in-line strainer and HDPE piping and fittings, these 8JSCE pumps were able to bypass the sewer system down the entire approximately 1,000-foot street. 

RESULTS

Over the next six months, crews used the three 8JSCEs to set up the bypass from one manhole to another. With the bypass in place, the existing gravity sewer pipes were re-lined, thus eliminating the fear of sewer system failure. The Louisville MSD considered the project a big success and was grateful that traffic and businesses in the area endured minimal impact during the project. 

About Thompson Pump and Manufacturing Company:
An ISO 9001 Certified company, Thompson Pump and Manufacturing Company is an award-winning, full-service manufacturer and provider of high-quality, high-performance pumps, pumping equipment and engineering expertise for bypass pumping, dewatering, mining and flood control. Thompson Pump defines what is “state-of-the-art” in the industry and is dedicated to producing new and innovative dewatering and construction pump products. Family-owned and operated for more than 50 years, Thompson Pump continually seeks innovative and creative talent to join the team. For more, visit thompsonpump.com.