When the Grand Strand Water and Sewer Authority engaged Ruby-Collins, Inc. to expand and upgrade its water and sewer system, Ruby-Collins President and CEO Scott Cline knew the job would be challenging – beginning with the project’s scale. A key feature in the upgrade was the installation of a 48-inch spiral-welded steel pipe water main that was coated in polyurethane and five miles long.

Because the pipe would pass under the Waccamaw River, 2,500 feet of the large diameter pipe would be installed using Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD). And because the line would pass through the federally protected Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge on both sides of the river, the contractor would have to build a one-mile temporary roadway through the wetlands.

Moreover, for Ruby-Collins, the specification of spiral-welded steel pipe for the water main was a first. “There have not been a lot of steel pipe projects in the Carolinas,” Cline said. “This was our first spiral-welded steel pipe project.”

In light of the many challenges, Cline said one decision was easy – choosing AMERICAN’s 48-inch spiral-welded steel pipe. “We’ve partnered with AMERICAN for 50 years using ductile iron pipe, and it made sense to work with AMERICAN for our first steel job. We had an existing comfort level with them.”

Traversing a Tidal Swamp
The tidal freshwater wetlands of the Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge are a vital corridor for wildlife, and they also provide filtration for the Grand Strand district’s primary source of drinking water.

“We had to get permits from U.S. Fish and Wildlife, and we had to build a temporary road, with a platform to support the drillers,” said Matt Minor, chief of engineering and construction for the authority.

The contractors knew the Waccamaw wetlands are regularly affected by tidal flooding from the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, and that’s why the plans called for the pipeline to be anchored in the swamp. What they didn’t know was that a major river flood would affect the site during the build, covering the drilling platforms with several feet of water. Amid the flood-related delay, one thing Cline’s team depended on was the partnership with AMERICAN to help the team succeed on this challenging portion of the project.

“We have an established relationship with Ruby-Collins,” said AMERICAN Senior Territory Manager John Walsh. “We provide essential value by furnishing quality products, industry knowledge and unparalleled service.”

AMERICAN SpiralWeld Pipe (ASWP) Territory Manager Kyle Couture added, “This job was a success because of planning and preparation. We hosted Ruby-Collins for a plant tour at ASWP in Columbia, South Carolina, to help them prepare for handling and installation, and we worked closely with their installation crews throughout the project, answering questions and providing guidance on typical industry practices. Once the pipeline was in service, Grand Strand staff also toured our ASWP facility to help them prepare for service and maintenance needs for the pipeline.”

Serving a Growing Population
The Grand Strand Water and Sewer Authority is a special purpose district serving unincorporated areas in the vicinity of Myrtle Beach. The new 48-inch water line, an upgrade from an existing 36-inch line, will accommodate an expansion of the existing water treatment plant. In addition, the project included converting the former water main into a new sewer force main.

Work on the $25 million project began in early 2020 and was completed in June 2022. It is expected to enable continued growth for years to come, Minor said, “We’re a fast-growing area, and with this, we’ll have additional capacity.”