Water transportation is essential for preventing overflows and backwater damage. However, sometimes the natural flow of water must cross over roads, railways, trails, and more. To achieve this transportation, the water must be able to move past these structures without disrupting traffic. Culverts have emerged as one such solution to this issue.
While culverts typically have a long-lasting life, they are still prone to damage and failure. This can lead to a negative environmental impact and a disruption to the surrounding municipality. Read on to learn more about how to prevent and respond to a culvert failure.
What is a Culvert?
Municipalities often need ways to transport water throughout their city. Culverts are one such solution to this need. A culvert is a tunnel created to transport water underneath roads, railroads, and other similar structures. They’re often constructed with steel, concrete, or hardened plastic to withstand the weight of the structure above them.
Despite these strong materials, culverts are subject to deterioration and damage. In extreme cases, you may be dealing with a collapsed culvert. Read on to learn how to prevent this situation and what to do if your city’s culverts are already damaged.
How To Prevent Culvert Failure
A culvert failure can have a detrimental impact on the environment. Fortunately, there are a few steps you can take to prevent culvert failure.
Schedule Regular Maintenance
Having your pipelines checked regularly can help prevent culvert failure. Your pipeline specialist can check for deterioration, cracks, obstructions, or signs of a potential collapse before it becomes dangerous. With consistent monitoring, you can keep up on repairs and avoid larger-scale damage.
Install a Debris Deflector
One of the leading causes of culvert failure is damage from debris. It’s common to find debris building up along the entrance of your culvert, restricting water flow and resulting in deterioration or damage when debris breaks free. To decrease this hazard, install a debris deflector. This will block some of the larger debris and keep your culvert from clogging.
Know the Warning Signs
Understanding the warning signs of a collapsed culvert is an essential part of a speedy repair. The water flow will be your most prominent sign. When a culvert fails, the water that is typically transported through it will begin to back up and cause issues. You may notice overflowing drains that lead to flooded roads, railroads, and more.
Consider Rehabilitation
Whether your pipeline specialist notices damage during a routine inspection or the roads have started to flood, you’ll want to consider rehabilitation. This may be as minor as repairing a small portion of your culvert or may be a major repair that requires a complete relining. We’ll dive into the repair methods a bit more in the next section.
How To Respond To Culvert Failure
But, what happens when a culvert fails? If you’ve started to notice the major warning signs of a culvert failure or collapsed culvert, it’s time to contact a professional. A pipeline specialist can evaluate the damage and determine the best repair method. We’ve outlined a few of the most common repair methods that may be used to rehabilitate a culvert.
Spiral Wound Lining
Using the Spiral Wound Lining method, SEKISUI SPR can seamlessly repair your culvert. This trenchless pipeline repair technique utilizes winding technology to install PVC liner into the host pipe. This fully structural method is an ideal solution for culvert failure as it can be done in a live flow.
Cured-In-Place Pipe Lining
Cured-In-Place Pipe Lining (CIPP) is an eco-friendly method that requires a resin-impregnated tube. The tube is then inserted into the culvert and cured in place to create a new pipe within the existing culvert. This method creates a fully structural culvert pipeline that will extend the life of your culvert by a minimum of 50 years.
Slip Lining
With slip lining, a smaller, flexible pipeline is inserted into the existing culvert. Similar to the other repair methods, this technique offers additional support to the host pipeline. Once the pipe is in place, it is grouted to the previous culvert.
SEKISUI SPR Culvert Repair
SEKISUI SPR is a leading innovator of trenchless pipeline repair technology. With these advanced tools, our professional team can quickly respond to and repair your damaged or collapsed culvert. Our Spiral Wound Lining method is a top choice for its eco-friendly benefits, speedy process, and affordable price.
Contact our team today to learn more about how we can assist you with your culvert failure.
