Pipe Bursting

Yes, pipe bursting can install a larger replacement pipe when cover, soil, utility clearances, host material, connection elevations, and bursting equipment support the required expansion. The increase is engineered for the corridor. Harrowgate verifies displacement risk and hydraulic geometry before accepting an upsizing plan.

Brittle materials such as vitrified clay, cast iron, and some concrete pipes are common candidates. Ductile materials, steel repairs, heavy couplings, concrete encasement, and unusual transitions need cutting, splitting equipment, or a point excavation. CCTV and record review determine whether the full route is burstable.

No. Pipe bursting reduces continuous trenching, but it still requires launch and receiving pits plus access at services, obstructions, valves, fittings, or grade corrections. The commercial advantage depends on how many excavations remain and how much pavement, traffic control, landscaping, and site operation disruption they avoid.

Each active lateral is located, disconnected from the host pipe, protected from the bursting operation, and reconnected to the new main using the specified fitting and seal. Harrowgate coordinates bypass or interruption requirements, documents every connection, and verifies the completed main by CCTV before acceptance.

Not reliably without direct correction. A replacement pipe often follows the existing path, so a sag can remain. When grade must be restored, Harrowgate places an access pit at the low section, corrects the bedding elevation, and controls the new invert before continuing the burst and post-installation CCTV.

We review records, obtain Ontario One Call locates, daylight critical crossings, assess soil and cover, control the expander size, and monitor exposed utilities and ground movement during pullback. An abnormal force increase stops the operation for investigation. Clearance is verified in the field where displacement could affect another asset.

Provide alignment and profile drawings, host pipe material and diameter, CCTV, service locations, geotechnical data, utility records, flow information, shutdown limits, surface restoration requirements, and available staging space. Harrowgate uses these details to define pits, equipment, replacement pipe, bypass needs, reconnections, testing, and restoration.

Acceptance depends on service. Gravity sewer work typically includes connection verification, post-installation CCTV, grade review, and specified leakage or deflection testing. Pressure pipe work includes joint records, pressure testing, flushing, and commissioning. Potable water sections also follow MECP disinfection and microbiological sampling requirements before connection.