In 2012, a large diameter 42″ transmission main pipeline was built to convey water to and from a planned UV Disinfection Facility located below the Black Mountain Reservoir.
The Victaulic Advanced Groove System (AGS) was chosen to join the piping system located below existing roads where space was limited. Carbon steel coated and the lined pipe was prepared on-site using a Victaulic VE872 motorized roll grooving tool. Black Mountain Irrigation District used their own labor to perform the grooving, thereby saving time and money.
Victaulic AGS couplings, with only 2 housings and 4 bolts each, quickly joined the system and could be visually inspected for proper assembly. With over 200 AGS couplings joining more than 4 km/2.5 mi of piping, the Victaulic grooved system delivered significant time and cost savings compared to welding.
The system was installed without the need for excavation, bell holing (widening of a trench over a given distance), and dewatering, regardless of weather and temperature. The pipe did not need recoating, which eliminated the need for Level 3 confined space entry or application of field-applied coatings which carry no manufacturer warranty. Victaulic grooved joints also did not require cathodic protection typical for a buried system. Victaulic provided extensive grooving and installation training to ensure project success of the transmission main pipeline.
