Delaware Valley University Gets an Upgraded Water Main System

DVUC • November 4, 2022

It disrupts lives and can damage property when a water main breaks. Water mains that need updating can be just as frustrating. Delaware Valley University in Doylestown, PA, upgraded its water main system to due to increased volume from new bathrooms and an irrigation system located near the stadium. The existing water main system ran from the parking lot to the athletic field.


It was important to the university that the parking lot be disturbed as little as possible. The solution was drilling 400 feet horizontally down the lot. This was the only disturbance since it was summer break. During the horizontal directional drilling, they utilized the JT 30 drill rig and a vac machine to keep the area clean. They fused over 400 feet of a 4-inch HDPE pipe on site. Below is a breakdown of the project. 

1. Mark, one of our certified fusion technicians, starts the fusion process of 410 feet of 4-inch HDPE water main.

2. The fusion of the HDPE is underway. Team member Roy is calibrating our F5 locating equipment to ensure accuracy during the drilling of the HDPE pipe. 

3. Our crew of technicians is skilled at operating a wide range of equipment to ensure precision on each project. Rafael is on the drill rig and Roy is operating the F5 locating equipment.

4. Communication is vital between the drill rig operator and the locator. Roy uses the two-way radio to give the drill rig operator the adjustments needed to the bore path on the campus.

5. The team has drilled past an exposed 3-inch fiber line (fiber line on the right) with the drill stem next to it. After the “one call” was made, all utilities were located, and the depth was verified; this one was verified by open cut.

6. We drilled right out on the mark!

7. The 4-inch water main and 1-inch conduit are hooked up behind the 8-inch reamer.

8. Lastly, the 4-inch water main and the 1-inch conduit are pulled back to the drill rig. Our field crew completes the project by filling in the trench. 

At DVUC, we are experts in all aspects of water main integration, installation, and repair. We appreciate the hard work of our crew and for the opportunity. Contact us today to learn how we can make your next utility project run smoothly! 

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