2024 Watermain Lining Project

The City of Golden Valley owns and operates 128 miles of underground watermain that delivers clean, potable water to the residents and businesses. The system was predominantly installed in the 1950s and 1960s as the City developed. Over time, the piping materials degrade, break down, and fail. This process is often accelerated when the piping is located in wet, clay soils that are corrosive.

The watermain beneath Kenneth Way, Adair Ave N, and Duluth Lane has reached the end of its useful life span, causing multiple watermain breaks that cost time and money to repair. The Adair Area Watermain Rehabilitation Project will repair the deteriorating watermain and extend the life of the pipe for another 50–100 years.

Proposed Improvements

For the last several years, City staff has been planning for and scoping possible improvements to the watermain along Kenneth Way, Adair Ave N, and Duluth Lane. Because the watermain is under the roadway, traditional open-trench replacement of the system would be very intrusive and expensive.

To determine the appropriate replacement method, the City explored various trenchless options and selected Pressure Rated Cured-In-Place-Pipe (CIPP) lining. CIPP pipeline rehabilitation is cost-effective, minimally intrusive, and has been a widely used and accepted method for replacing public utilities for almost 50 years. It has been successfully used in Golden Valley on other watermain rehabilitation projects, most notably along Glenwood Ave, Boone Ave, Legend Dr, and Brunswick Ave.

The CIPP watermain lining process generally involves installing a flexible sock-like tube inside the existing watermain. This sock is expanded until it is pressed firmly against the existing pipe wall, then cured with hot water until it has completely hardened, creating a new pipe inside of the existing pipe (see photo). Small service connections that feed homes are then robotically cut out from inside the pipe. Larger connections for hydrants and valves are typically excavated and replaced.

Process At A Glance

• Prepare entry and exit pits
• Empty, clean, and prepare watermain for liner insertion 
• Insert flexible liner into the pipe 
• Expand liner until tight against pipe
• Cure the liner until it has fully hardened 
• Pressure test the liner system
• Cut in residential services robotically from inside the pipe 
• Excavate and cut in larger connections, like hydrants and valves 
• Chlorination and bacteria testing
• Restore entry and exit pits 

CIPP watermain lining meets all health and safety codes for potable water and will be reviewed and permitted through the Minnesota Department of Health.

Construction 

This project will be under construction May 28 through August and will have impacts to traffic around the King of Grace School and Church along Kenneth Way, Adair Ave N, and Duluth Lane. Residents living along these roadways will maintain access to their driveways. The roadways will also remain open to through traffic for the entirety of the project