Many cities have sewer systems that have been in place for more than 100 years. What happens when those old systems begin to fail and need replacement? As cities grow and decades of infrastructure is added, the records from individual utilities traditionally aren’t maintained to a reliable standard. That’s where current Subsurface Utility Engineering investigations add tremendous value to project planning and implementation.
Heavy rains improperly entering the combined sewer system contribute to basement flooding in homes across Toronto, Canada. To improve the sewer and drainage systems, the city developed a program called the Basement Flooding Protection Program. Understanding where the sewer pipes are as well as the location of surrounding below-ground utilities was critical for planning and avoiding utility impacts during upsizing and renovation construction. T2 Utility Engineers teamed with Jacobs, the lead engineering firm, to provide the underground utility investigation data to aid in the efficient design and replacement of sewer infrastructure at hundreds of locations across residential and high-traffic roadways.
Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) investigations have been conducted following ASCE 38 standards, which provided consistency and certainty of information throughout the program. SUE data provided to the design teams includes topographic survey, utility mapping and designation using a variety of geophysical techniques, chamber investigations, invert elevations to provide specific location detail, and Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) for additional visual confirmation and assessment. The use of SUE data provides comprehensive information that has assisted design and mitigated future utility related conflicts.
Started in 2009, this extensive project is ongoing. For more information on solving drainage and wastewater problems, contact us.