Understanding the Environmental Effects of Cured-in-Place Pipes for Utility Pipe Rehabilitation

About the project:

The cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) method of lining damaged or worn pipes beneath Virginia’s roads is a common practice. This “trenchless technology” replaces the costly alternative of unearthing and replacing the entire pipe. In CIPP applications, a lining tube is saturated with a resin, installed into the existing pipeline, and cured into an impermeable pipe-within-a-pipe. Potential environmental problems related to CIPP methods have not been comprehensively addressed. Depending on the chemical composition of the materials and the containment and disposal methods of the effluent, CIPP installation could result in contaminated soils and receiving waters. This project will entail collecting information on the methods used in VDOT’s CIPP installations and analyzing the impacts that the process may have on soil and water quality. The report will include recommendations on whether specification changes should be made in order to ensure VDOT’s compliance with environmental regulations.

Project Team

Co-Principal Investigators

Other Investigators