The challenge of installing a new sewer line or repairing an existing sewer pipe in Manhattan is like no other borough. There are many factors to be considered in Manhattan that are not necessarily an issue in any of the outer boroughs of NYC.
The most common factor to be considered is underground utilities. Unlike Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx, Manhattan does not have above ground power lines which make for more challenging digging conditions. All of the utilities in Manhattan are located below ground level; this may result in a sewer installation to be completed all by hand digging. Most Sewer installations require the use of a backhoe to complete a sewer project all in a timely manner. If hand digging is required, a three day sewer installation can easily turn into a more costly one week project. For this reason it is important that a water main and sewer specialist is familiar with the area of Manhattan where the work is being performed. With enough experience, a sewer contractor will know the differences associated with installing a new sewer line in the Upper East Side and Midtown Manhattan.
Working around utilities |
Steel roadway plates are another factor associated with Manhattan sewer work that may not necessarily be required in other boroughs. Along with the challenge of digging comes additional time because it is not common that the roadway is opened and the new pipe is installed/ inspected all in one day. For this reason the contractor must use steel roadway plates for easy access to the pipe. In outer boroughs it is common that the roadway is opened and closed in the very same day. Roadway plates require additional time and assurance to make sure that the work site is left safe until the next workday.
Many of the streets in Manhattan are extremely narrow; this makes it a challenge for traffic to pass while installing a new sewer line. Unless working on an emergency basis, closing of the roadway is not normally permitted. Working on a narrow street requires attention to detail and planning before the job is started. It is common that a sewer is installed on one half of the street while the other half is plated to allow for passing traffic. If there is less than an 11’ driving lane, the jobsite is required to have a flagman navigating traffic. Where it is challenging to obtain a street closure permit, it can be done with the written permission by the community board, the local fire and police stations.
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Restricted working hours are commonly issued on DOT permits throughout Manhattan, this plays into all of the above factors and adds to the challenge of completing a sewer line installation in Manhattan.
The final and most potential reason for the biggest challenge is bedrock. If a sewer contractor encounters bedrock while excavating, it may take days and even weeks to break the bedrock before working on the actual repair or installation. It is impossible to know exactly where the contractor may encounter bedrock; there are areas of Manhattan where it is more common to encounter rock below ground level.
Recent Sewer Install in Chinatown
Harris Water recently completed a sewer installation on Pell St. which is a very narrow side street in Chinatown. The property owner had suffered from a complete failure of he sewer line and had a building full of angry tenants.
Due to the severity of the situation Harris was able to obtain an emergency working permit, was able to close the entire roadway and work on the sewer replacement until completed.
The city sewer was only 12′ away from the buidling which seems like a simple and straight forward sewer repair, this was not the case. Due to other utilities, the entire job had to be completed by hand. The on site techs had to dig 12′ deep by hand and worked throughout the night until the new 8″ cast iron sewer line was installed and inspected at 4PM of the next day.
