If you live in the five boroughs of NYC, it is expected to encounter cracks and crevices in the roadway on your daily commute. If you happen to encounter an actual hole in the roadway, it is safe to assume that there is a major problem occurring below ground level. This is exactly what happened Tuesday evening when a homeowner began to notice a sinkhole in front of his building, was now turning into an actual hole of the roadway. He quickly dialed 311 and reported the emergency.
A representative from the DEP field crew responded within a few hours, he first tested the main water line, along with some of the neighboring houses. He was quick to determine that the water lines were functioning as expected and decided to perform a camera inspection on the main sewer line. The inspection was quick to show cracks and a separation of the pipe, exactly below where the sinkhole had formed. The homeowner was issued a cease and desist notice to repair the sewer within 30 days.
Roadway hole |
Cracks inside pipe (camera inspection) |
A few days passed and the homeowner was frantic, the sinkhole was getting larger and there were small children living in the neighborhood. The owner was referred to two companies who are known as the industry leaders throughout NYC. After two meetings the same day, she decided to hire Harris Water due to a fair price and ability to repair the pipe. The other contractor was insistent on replacing the entire sewer line and would not entertain repairing a section of the pipe.
Harris was able to obtain all required permits, schedule inspection with DEP for the next day and began opening the roadway first thing in the morning.
After digging for several hours, the installation team finally reached the broken pipe which was made of clay. It is always suggested to avoid repairing a clay pipe, it is unknown when another section of the pipe will break once a section is repaired. Replacing the entire sewer line was not an option for this homeowner; she had borrowed the money for the initial repair and now had to hope the remaining sections of pipe would last for years to come.
Digging for broken pipe |
Installing new sewer pipe |
Harris repaired an eight foot section of pipe by 2PM when the DEP inspector arrived on site. After doing his due diligence, the inspection report was signed off passing inspection. Harris now backfilled the roadway with clean soil, and put temporary asphalt on the roadway for safe driving conditions.
Harris Water Main & Sewer Contractors was able to respond to an emergency situation and assist a desperate homeowner. With over 95 years’ experience, Harris was able to locate the section of broken pipe and perform a repair on the pipe all in one day.
