The Pipe Blog

In most industries, failure is inconvenient. In civil infrastructure, failure is consequential. Bridges carry families to work and school. Culverts protect rural highways from washouts. Storm systems prevent neighborhoods from flooding. Wastewater storage systems protect rivers and drinking water supplies. These are not optional assets – they are mission-critical systems that communities depend on every day.

Civil engineers face a level of complexity and expectation that continues to rise year after year. Beyond mastery of core engineering principles, today’s professionals must navigate advanced digital design platforms, manage accelerated project timelines, interpret evolving regulatory frameworks, and coordinate seamlessly across multidisciplinary teams. At the same time, they are expected to deliver solutions that balance performance, constructability, sustainability, and cost—often amid tighter budgets and heightened public scrutiny.

As America’s infrastructure expands, the demand for reliable sewer systems is growing rapidly—industry forecasts suggest over 700 million linear feet of sewer pipe installations by 2026. For larger-diameter systems (say 30 inches and up), ensuring the integrity of pipe joints becomes both more important and more challenging.

Trench boxes provide essential worker safety when installing pipe in deep trenches or unstable soils. However, their use with large diameter flexible pipes presents a critical challenge: maintaining compacted embedment integrity during trench box movement. Improper technique can create voids alongside the pipe or reduce backfill density adjacent to the pipe, eliminating the lateral support that flexible pipes require to control deflection.

Buried pipelines are often “out of sight, out of mind,” but protecting them during construction is critical. Heavy equipment loads can exceed design limits, requiring additional temporary or permanent cover to prevent damage. Contractors must locate and mark buried pipes, then use cover-height tables—based on equipment type and load details—to determine proper protection. By applying the right cover and maintaining it throughout grading, paving, and other activities, contractors can safeguard installed pipelines and avoid costly failures.

When it comes to drainage solutions in aggressive environments, material selection makes all the difference. Traditional galvanized corrugated metal pipe often struggles to withstand the corrosive effects of saltwater, brackish water, and hypersaline soils. That’s where Corrugated Aluminum Alloy Pipe (CAP) stands apart.

America’s Wastewater Infrastructure is currently rated at a D+, according to the 2025 ASCE Report Card for America’s Infrastructure. The Wastewater category includes both piping for the collection systems and the wastewater treatment plants the piping leads to. The collection system alone experiences 3.3 failures per 100 miles of pipe every year, putting pressure on maintenance teams to identify suspect pipes for either complete replacement or pipeline rehabilitation. This article will focus on the design and construction considerations necessary when a pipeline owner determines they will be rehabilitating an existing pipe.

Unlike circular pipes, arch-shaped culverts present a unique challenge when it comes to structural rehabilitation. Their non-round geometry and sometimes integrated parapet walls mean that standard sliplining methods don't always apply. However, just because a culvert isn’t round doesn't mean it can’t be effectively relined.

Why have a preconstruction meeting for pipe? Engineers have been designing various types of pipe for hundreds of years, while contractors have been installing it for hundreds of years. What needs to be discussed?  It’s fair to say that all stake holders (owner, engineer, contractor and manufacturer) want a successful project. Taking the time a week prior to installation to cover key items will save time, and money, by recognizing and mitigating any issues before they arise.

Contech and US Pipe team up to delivered an educational webinar designed to address the challenges and opportunities in municipal water and wastewater infrastructure.