On Monday, September 16, 2024, Mark Yoder, a seasoned Project Manager from Carroll Engineering Corporation, took the spotlight at the Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Association (PMAA) conference. His presentation, titled “When It Hits the Fan: Navigating an Emergency Sewer Main Break,” addressed real-life challenges municipalities face and how to turn these moments of crisis into opportunities for improved infrastructure with municipal infrastructure solutions.

In front of an audience of municipal authorities, Mark shared critical insights from his nearly two decades of experience in water and wastewater engineering. The presentation covered real-world examples from the New Hanover Township Authority (NHTA), showcasing a key issue: multiple sewer main breaks that occurred in early 2023, causing extensive damage and disruption.

What Happens When Critical Infrastructure Fails

Corroded pipes removed after New Hanover Township’s sewer main break, showcasing the need for infrastructure upgrades.

On February 7, 2023, New Hanover Township faced an unexpected crisis: a sewer main break in a 16-inch ductile iron pipe. Initially, this appeared to be a patchable problem. But just weeks later, a second break occurred, revealing a more significant underlying issue. In total, 1,800 linear feet of corroded pipe had to be replaced. This was no small task—it involved bypassing systems, mobilizing emergency services, and managing repairs under the watchful eye of regulatory agencies.

Swamp Creek Pump Station force main breaks and infrastructure layout, highlighting key locations for repairs and system management.

The break was caused by hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gas corrosion, which built up in a vulnerable portion of the main. Without immediate action, the failure could have led to far more severe environmental and operational issues, not to mention skyrocketing repair costs. This event underscores the harsh reality of aging infrastructure—no matter how well-designed, systems can fail unexpectedly, demanding rapid response and flexibility.

Why This Matters for Municipalities

Municipalities constantly grapple with aging infrastructure, unpredictable breaks, and the pressures of maintaining regulatory compliance. Mark Yoder’s presentation gave a candid view of the lessons learned from NHTA’s experience. These lessons translate into proactive strategies that municipalities can adopt to ensure preparedness in similar crises.

Infrastructure Preparedness is Critical for Municipalities

• Handle unexpected infrastructure crises
• Strengthen regulatory compliance
• Minimize repair costs over time

Carroll Engineering’s Expertise

Carroll Engineering Corporation continues to lead the charge in civil engineering, providing expert services to municipalities. Mark’s participation in the PMAA is an evidence to our dedication to providing cutting-edge solutions that safeguard municipalities from critical infrastructure failures.

This blog is the first in a series where we dive deeper into the insights shared by Mark Yoder and how Carroll Engineering Corporation is setting the standard for municipal engineering. Stay tuned as we explore the lessons learned from NHTA’s experiences and how your municipality can avoid similar pitfalls.

Each post will dive deeper into the processes and solutions that saved the day during the New Hanover Township sewer main break, giving you the tools to apply these lessons to your own operations.

Stay Tuned: Blog Series with Actionable Insights for Municipal Leaders

You’ll learn:

• How to build a crisis management team
• Root cause analysis for infrastructure failures
• Cost-effective emergency repair strategies
• Navigating legal and regulatory hurdles
• Long-term planning and infrastructure assessment techniques