In NYC it is most common to find sewer pipes that are made of clay and extra heavy cast iron. Cast Iron is the only legal material used for installations of a new sewer line throughout the five boroughs of NYC. It is possible that a house has a sewer line made of clay; this type of pipe was most likely installed over 50 years ago, before being regulated.
Orangeburg pipe is still commonly found in older houses throughout the Bronx and is not common to find in any other borough. Orangeburg pipe is a cardboard-like material that is made from layers of wood pulp and pitch pressed together. Orangeburg was originally created to use under electrical conduits. Orangeburg was not supposed to be used because the material was never approved or legalized for sewer installations. The primary factor why a contractor would use Orangeburg is cost. Orangeburg was extremely inexpensive allowing for the contractor to make more money, while ignoring the integrity of the cardboard-like material and how it would hold up over the years.
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Harris Water Main & Sewer Contractors continues to replace sewer lines throughout the Bronx to discover Orangeburg pipe installed below ground level. It is common to find that the Orangeburg pipe has been broken for many years while the sewer line is still used. In this case, the sewage usually seeps out of the pipe and into the surrounding soil until it becomes oversaturated. Once the soil is oversaturated, the sewage will start to backup into the house causing unsanitary conditions.
Bronx sewer install completed by Harris
Recently Harris Water encountered a similar situation in The Bronx where the homeowner had been experiencing sporadic sewer line backups. She continued to contact her local plumber who would clear the sewer line with a water jet. After 4 months of jetting, the pipe the sewer line had completely failed. The jet was no longer clearing the sewer line; it was only making more room in the surrounding soil for the sewage to find its way.
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Sewer excavation |
Installing new pipe |
Harris worked on an emergency basis to install the new extra heavy cast iron sewer line within two days, including all required permits and DEP inspections.
After over 95 years and four generations, Harris Water Main & Sewer Contractors continues to serve the five boroughs in all water main and sewer emergencies. Contact our office 24/7 with any questions at 718-495-3600
More about Orangeburg pipe
Orangeburg pipe was originally produced in many sizes ranging from 2 inches to 18 inches using wood pulp and hot pitch. Orangeburg is a lightweight material, extremely brittle and can be easily broken. Orangeburg pipe has half of the life span or other metal and clay pipes. The average life span of Orangeburg pipe is 25 years and is not legal to use in any type of construction work.
