This story also appeared on Water Online.
What’s better than one AMERICAN Flow Control® valve or hydrant with an ALPHA™ restrained joint end? How about almost 400? The Houtzdale Municipal Authority is installing more than 300 resilient wedge gate valves with ALPHA restrained joint ends and almost 60 American-Darling® B-62-B fire hydrants with ALPHA bases as part of the water authority’s distribution replacement project. Work began June 2019 and is expected to be completed June 2020.
“We are replacing about 22% of our system,” said Houtzdale Water Superintendent John Gallagher. “Anything that is 25 years or older is being replaced to reduce our unaccounted for water and strengthen our aging water infrastructure.”
Rick Ulrich with L/B Water and Jack Troutman and Shane Hueth with AMERICAN Flow Control were all instrumental in the project. The effort began in early 2019 when the companies visited the water authority to demonstrate the features of the ALPHA restrained joint. “Officials liked the fact that ALPHA only has one bolt, and the hydrants and valves could quickly be bolted to the pipe,” said Ulrich. “More than 100 valves with ALPHA restrained joint ends and hydrants with ALPHA bases have been installed so far for this project, and everything is going well. Everyone likes ALPHA.”
“ALPHA’s single-bolt design makes it easy to use and saves time on installation. Depending on the situation, the time savings can be between 15 and 45 minutes per joint.” – C&R Directional Boring Superintendent/Project Foreman Rob Inguagiato
Gallagher said the water authority also talked with other water systems before choosing ALPHA and found they were having good success with them. “ALPHA is quick, efficient and versatile – it can be used for different types of installations and on various pipe materials,” he said. “It’s a good quality product.”
C&R Directional Boring Superintendent/Project Foreman Rob Inguagiato said his company has previously used ALPHA, and its ease of application and versatility make it ideal for any type of installation. “We are using the ALPHA restrained joint ends every day on this project,” Inguagiato said. “ALPHA’s single-bolt design makes it easy to use and saves time on installation. Depending on the situation, the time savings can be between 15 and 45 minutes per joint.”
The project is being funded through the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST), which helps utilities fund drinking water, wastewater, storm water and non-point source projects across the state.
The contractor for the Houtzdale distribution replacement project was C&R Directional Boring LLC. in Clearfield, Pennsylvania. The engineer was Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc. in State College, Pennsylvania. The distributor was L/B Water in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania.
