Last spring, the community of Redwood Meadows, Alberta contracted MPE Engineering to solve their aging below-grade infrastructure that was deteriorating due to a high groundwater table. Martech’s Derek Traquair helped the engineers at MPE find their solution in Prime Resins and Riser-Wrap.

Problem One: ground water infiltration leaking in to the sanitary system
The large amount of groundwater infiltration was entering in to the sanitary system and creating extra treatment costs for Redwood Meadows. In some cases, the deterioration was so much that the entire chamber would need to be replaced, but the majority of chambers were able to be rehabilitated using Prime Resins 920, Prime Resins Oakum and certified installation techniques.

Van Mason's Coatings, a certified Prime Resins applicator, and Derek Traquair from Martech to develop a cost effective solution. Originally, Van Mason's was contracted to rehabilitate five chambers. The first project went so well, though, the Van Mason's contract was extended to include the rest of the leaking chambers.

In the end, ten leaking manhole chambers were sealed by Van Masons Coatings with Prime Resins sealing grout.. Derek was on hand to get some pictures and answer any technical questions from MPE or the community, providing local support and value in the field.

Problem Two: Preventing infiltration in the future
MPE and Redwood Meadows also contracted Tyson Construction to install a replacement sewer main and manhole chambers to replace the ones that had suffered the worst deterioration. In order to prevent infiltration problems from happening again, MPE specified the use of PSI Riser-Wrap heat-shrink polyethylene sleeves to be wrapped around the manhole joints.

Tyson and MPE contacted Derek again to help them with their first installation and show the crews how to install the Riser-Wrap as effectively as possible. Derek worked with the Tyson crew in sealing their first chamber. Tyson Construction was then able to seal the rest of the chambers preventing groundwater problems in the future!

Take a look at MPE Engineering's Mark Steffler's comments on this project!

To whom it may concern:

In the spring of 2009, MPE Engineering accepted bids and information in regards to the rehabilitation of ten below-grade manhole structures that were experiencing moderate to high levels of groundwater infiltration in Redwood Meadows, west of Calgary. Previously, we had been in discussions with Derek Traquair of Martech who had presented infiltration control solutions using Prime Resins polyurethane grouts as an infiltration prevention solution for these problems.

Derek provided us with the recommendation and contact information for Van Mason's Coatings, a company that had been certified by Prime Resins for injection grouting. After a site tour, Van Mason's was contracted to seal five of the leaking manhole chambers from groudwater infiltration. After a review of their initial work, the contract was extended to included a total of ten chambers.

Van Mason's used a combination of Prime Resins polyurethane grout and Prime Resins oakum. The techniques use by their personnel were also endorsed by Martech and Prime Resins. Furthermore, Derek Traquair came out to personally review the chambers that were undergoing maintenance by Van Mason's.

After the work was completed, it was observed that all then chambers had been sealed properly and there was no further infiltration from groundwater leaking into the chamber. We have not experienced a high groundwater condition since the work was completed, but will be monitoring them on an ongoing basis. We also found that the project came in under budget, providing further value to MPE and Redwood Meadows.

We appreciate and would like to thank Martech for their support in bringing us this innovative solution. We will continue to work with Derek Traquair and Martech in our future projects.

Yours truly ,

MARK STEFFLER, P. Eng
Project Manager
MPE Engineering Ltd.