As wastewater treatment processes have improved and collection systems are tightened to prevent infiltration, the corrosive nature of the wastewater environment has dramatically increased. The successful advent of regulatory mandates to maintain and repair wastewater infrastructure assets and trenchless technology, repair or replace without digging, facilitates insitu repairs of wastewater structures. Today’s high performance protective coatings are ideally suited for these potentially dangerous environments.

Over 60 years ago, North American countries began using coatings to seal and protect sewer pipe and structures. Shotcrete and gunite applications of cementitious materials were used both to build new and repair deteriorated structures. Epoxies, urethanes and vinyl esters have since emerged as the best spray applied coatings to provide enhanced corrosion protection. The insitu application of coatings necessitates a higher awareness and preparedness of coating contractors working in today’s sewers than ever before. Successfully performing coating application and inspection without injury or death should be a primary concern of every coating contractor providing services in this hazardous environment.

Sewer systems present a multitude of hazards for contractors. Evaluation of the structures requiring access and accurate identification of a safety plan is necessary on every project. This is even truer for sewer workers because confined spaces comprise many of the structures within the wastewater industry, including most of those structures within collection systems. Coatings are being applied to prevent corrosion, provide containment and to structurally rebuild deteriorated structures, including but not limited to:

Collection Systems

  • Manholes, vaults and shafts

  • Pipelines and tunnels

  • Lift stations

  • Wet wells

  • Junction boxes

Treatment Plants

  • Manholes and vaults

  • Diversion structures

  • Basins and overflow chambers

  • Clarifiers

  • Digestors

Subject
Water, Materials, Cylinders, Vaults, Propane, Floating, Personnel, Equipment, Health, safety, and environment, Sewage systems, Oxygen, Corrosion protection, Training
© 2006 Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP). All rights reserved. This work is protected by both domestic and international copyright laws. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of AMPP. Positions and opinions advanced in this work are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of AMPP. Responsibility for the content of the work lies solely with the author(s).
2006
Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)
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