Forty-five feet below a major U.S. interstate sat a 65-foot deep vault containing a complex system of pipes, valves, and infrastructure for drinking water. For years it worked like a well-oiled machine, until it didn’t. One of the 36” L-shape joints of a cast iron, concrete-lined water main suffered a leak. After other contractors tried various external solutions which ultimately failed, the experts at Miller Pipeline, creator of the WEKO-SEAL internal joint seal, were called in.

Foreman Patrick Whitehead reported to the site and conducted pre-job safety checks then ventured underground and found the leak. This leak was no match for a WEKO-SEAL.

First he prepped the concrete with quick-curing hydraulic cement, then applied a 14” extra-wide WEKO-SEAL. Once the seal was in place, he applied the standard two stainless steel retaining bands and one additional for added stability. Upon completion of the installation, an air test was performed on the seal.

If the customer replaced that segment of leaking pipe, it would have taken days. From start to finish, installing a WEKO-SEAL, guaranteed to be bottle tight, took just over four hours. This created huge cost savings for the customer, and service was only interrupted for a few hours. Contact Miller Pipeline’s WEKO-SEAL team to see how they can help with any repairs on any type of pipe (including compound angles), carrying any product.

After an application of quick-curing hydraulic cement, WEKO-SEALs are then installed by expertly-trained crews, all confined-space certified and available for emergency calls anywhere in the world.

To learn more about WEKO-SEAL solutions, click here.