Page 6 - MS811

The Challenges of Repairing Rural Water Lines in an Urbanizing Area
Bear Creek Water Association Employs a Vacuum Excavator
Written by Cori Sellars, product marketing lead Provided by: Vermeer MV Solutions, Piedmont, SC
Bear Creek Water Association, Inc. (BCWA) provides
water and sewer services to approximately 50,000 people in a 105-square-mile (272.2 m2) service area in the rapidly urbanizing south Madison County region. The service area is located between the cities of Ridgeland to the south, Canton to the north, Flora to the west, and the Ross Barnett Reservoir to the east. BCWA has nearly 20,000 water meters in its system, making it the second-largest water provider in central Mississippi (after the City of Jackson) and the largest rural water association in the state.
BCWA’s system consists of pipes of different sizes, ranging from 2 inches to 16 inches (5.1 cm to 40.6 cm) in diameter. The majority of the system is made
up of 8-inch (20.3 cm) pipes, but there are also significant sections of 12-inch and 16-inch (30.5 cm to 40.6 cm) pipes. This is because the system includes water wells spread throughout the county, which necessitates the use of larger diameter pipes for efficient water distribution. However, the increasing
4 • Mississippi 811 2024, Issue 1
Nolan Williams, General Manager, Bear Creek Water Association
urbanization and the presence of more underground utilities, such as electric lines and sidewalks, have posed new challenges for BCWA.
“We initially served customers in rural areas, but now our services extend to subdivisions, commercial areas, and more,” said Nolan Williamson, general manager for BCWA. “As the area has grown, we have noticed an increase
in water and sewer line repairs. In
the past, people mainly needed to be mindful of water, sewer, and gas lines when digging. However, due to the area’s growth, there are now multiple fiber, electrical, cable TV, and telephone lines to consider. The use of utility poles for installation has decreased.”
To make repairs, the team at BCWA has primarily relied on trackhoes (backhoe loaders) and mini excavators. However, in some environments, using these common equipment fleet staples of most rural water associations can potentially cause additional damage that will need to be addressed.
The biggest challenge today in repairing the water lines is dealing with the obstacles and costs associated
with these repairs. With increasing urbanization, simple repairs that used to involve digging a hole, fixing the pipe, and filling it back in have become more complicated. Cutting into the ground now risks damaging other utilities, resulting in additional expenses.
Finding another way
According to Williamson, “Ideally,
each type of utility would have its own designated area and run parallel to each other. However, that is not usually the case. We have numerous utilities that run throughout the county at similar depths and are located just a few feet (meters) away from our water and sewer lines. Fiber lines are often positioned on top of our own lines, so when we need to perform repairs, we have to navigate around them. Since each leak is unique, it’s beneficial to have a range of options to choose from.
So, BCWA began exploring alternative digging methods several years ago to reduce utility damage during repairs and restoration work.
“We needed a more precise digging method, and we found the solution