Achen-Gardner Wins Project Of The Year 2024 At Reline America's Annual Installer Meeting

Reline America is excited to announce that Achen-Gardner of Tucson, AZ, has been awarded the Project of the Year 2024 during the Annual Installer Meeting in Saltville, Virginia. This prestigious award recognizes their outstanding work with the Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department (PCRWRD) on a critical rehabilitation project involving 1,240 linear feet of VCP pipe, specifically 30-inch and 39-inch diameters.

Project Overview
The project began with the requirement to install two new vaults on either side of the Santa Cruz Wash. However, Achen-Gardner's team discovered that the two siphons beneath the wash were 90% full of debris, leading to significant challenges.

Challenges

1. Bypass Coordination: The vault contractor bypassed the pipelines, creating a need for immediate action to clear the blockages.
2. Confined Space Safety: Working in confined spaces posed safety challenges for the crew.
3. Pipeline Geometry: The depth and curvature of the siphons increased the potential for wrinkles or defects during rehabilitation.

Solutions
Achen-Gardner approached the project with a comprehensive strategy:

1. Cleaning: The crew utilized hand-cleaning methods along with a custom hose extension for their hydro-excavation truck to effectively remove debris from the pipelines.
2. Camera Inspection: A self-performed camera inspection revealed the necessity for rehabilitation after the cleaning process.
3. Rehabilitation: The team self-performed the rehabilitation using Reline America's Alphaliner 1800, which provided the additional strength needed to accommodate the unique pipeline geometry.
4. Post-Inspection: Following the rehabilitation, a thorough inspection confirmed the installation was defect-free, satisfying all quality standards.
5. Removal of Bypass: The siphons were successfully returned to service by the vault contractor upon completion of all work.

Outcome
The asset owner, PCRWRD, expressed high satisfaction with the project's outcome. Mike Roberts, Project Manager for PCRWRD, stated, "The PCRWRD JOC Rehabilitation Team is very satisfied with the overall results of the work performed by the Achen-Gardner crews on the NOW Siphon CIPP Project. The liner was installed defect-free, looks great, and exceeded our expectations."

This award not only highlights Achen-Gardner’s commitment to quality and safety but also underscores Reline America’s dedication to recognizing excellence in the industry.