The annual Underground Infrastructure Awards (UIA), the most comprehensive and prestigious program to recognize outstanding performance and technology for the entire underground infrastructure industry, has announced the finalists for the 2025 awards.
Sponsored by Underground Infrastructure magazine, the UIAs will be held in tandem with the Underground Infrastructure Conference on March 4, in Room 361A-F of the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston. A reception kicks off the celebration at 5:30 p.m. followed by dinner and then the winners will be announced. This event is designed to reward the people and organizations for their incredible performances in a unique, personal and deserving fashion.
The Underground Infrastructure Awards will be the best opportunity of the year to truly recognize and honor the best of this grand, underground infrastructure industry in which we all relish and participate. We sincerely hope you will participate and join us in Houston for the celebration of underground infrastructure.
The finalists are listed below. To sponsor the event, contact Josh Allen at josh@undergroundinfrastructure.com, (832) 922-9018. Or, to attend, go to UI-Conference.com. For more information and questions, contact Karen Francis, karen@undergroundinfrastructure.com..
The Rising Star Award, Underground Infrastructure’s Benefactor Award and the Fiber Project of the Year will be announced during the UIA dinner.
Rehabilitation Project of the Year
Northwest Outfall Siphon Rehabilitation
Pima County Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department: The Northwest Outfall Siphon Rehabilitation Project addressed odor and design issues in a dual-barrel sewer siphon. Within the deteriorated structure, the interceptor sewer abruptly dropped and split into two large-diameter siphon pipes, causing turbulence and sediment accumulation from decreased velocities.
The redesigned structures feature elongated flow areas, ensuring smoother transitions and reducing turbulence and associated odors. A strategically placed weir within the inlet structure channels average daily flows into a single siphon pipe, maintaining energy, increasing velocity, and preventing solids deposition. Utilizing corrosion-resistant monolithic fiberglass lining extends the service life of the structures. An HDPE stop gate installed in the inlet structure offers flexibility in directing flows as needed.
The size of the inlet and outlet structures with a single continuous fiberglass liner presented manufacturing challenges. Each structure weighed nearly 44.5 tons. The manufacturing process required segmental spraying of the FRP liners and intricate assembly before casting into concrete.
Connecting to the existing structure presented a final challenge with the concrete encasement of the current siphon, rendering visibility impossible. Relying on as-builts, the team utilized a custom fiber-reinforced polymer internal wrap and concrete collar combination to ensure a corrosion-free and durable bond to the existing pipes.
Large Diameter Sewer Rehabilitation Project
Louisville/Jefferson County Metropolitan Sewer District: This large diameter sewer rehabilitation project leveraged its design-build team to assess, prioritize, design and implement repairs to aging underground infrastructure with a customized set of collaborative solutions developed for each of the distinct sewers.
Each of the sewers required rehabilitation methods tailored to the original sewer construction techniques, failures found, access opportunities, criticality of the location, availability of funding, sewage characteristics, traffic restrictions, and flow requirements.
The collaboration on this project produced several new trenchless pipe rehabilitation innovations. The first innovation arose from the need to limit hospital street disturbances while protecting the public and underground workers. The situation was challenging with partial sewer collapses leaving significant amounts of debris within the sewer and voids beneath the street supported only by abandoned trolley tracks. A unique solution was developed utilizing steel tunnel liner plates (designed for the loading condition), which were fully coated with solid epoxy for corrosion and wear resistance. These liners were installed in two-foot sections through areas of sewer collapse or imminent collapse such that workers could safely remove debris from within the protection of completed sets. The epoxy coated tunnel liner sections were then grouted in place to fill the voids under the street.
Another innovation arose from the detailed study of brick sewer failure modes, specifically lateral failures resulting in compression loss for the large diameter sewer. A new method to install cured-in-place liners in the laterals from within the large diameter sewer, eliminating surface disturbance and repairing the lateral and its tap.
No Back-Up on the Highway: Fayetteville Emergency 48-inch Sewer Rehabilitation
The city of Fayetteville, Ark., was experiencing an anomaly in rainwater collection at a key pump station, which prompted an investigation. As part of the investigation, a section of 48-inch sewer, within a 72-inch tunnel, running under Interstate 49 was included. During a rover inspection of the segment, it was discovered that there was a pipeline issue. The purpose of the 48-inch sewer rehabilitation project was to address this discovery by strengthening a 100-foot section of the sewer under the interstate to ensure its continued reliable operation.
A detailed inspection was completed by Simpson Gumpertz & Heger Inc. (SGH). It became apparent the issue identified by the rover was much more substantial. The team was able to work in partnership with the city to scale up the project to address all safety and technical needs to expand to the 925-feet lineal feet section (manhole to manhole) which needed to be addressed.
City of Houston-Memorial Bend (City Center)
When PM Construction began the project in mid-March of 2023 to rehabilitate two sewer pipes beneath the service road of Beltway 8 and Memorial Drive in Houston, the company had a November deadline. Working 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, the project wrapped up in early August a few months ahead of schedule. The project consisted of spin cast lining with geopolymer inside of reinforced concrete pipe (RCP) that totaled 5,129 feet of 54-inch and 515 feet of 36-inch sewer lines. For the 54-inch pipe, a total of 1.75-inches was sprayed, and the 36-inch pipe was sprayed at 1.25-inches thick. This ensured that the rehabilitation method would be fully structural to support everything that was going on inside and outside of the pipe.
The original pipe was so deteriorated in sections that the original rebar was poking through when workers got down to clean and tv the line. Due to the method of rehab and it being fully structural, only the host pipe could be used as a form for installation. When the project crew went down into one of the manholes for inspection, they discovered a giant, cavern-like void.
Energy Pipeline Project of the Year
Girth Weld Coating Efficiencies Accelerate Wolf Midstream NGL Pipeline Installation with Automated, Low-Application Temperature (LAT) Process
Extreme cold temperatures make the girth weld coating process particularly challenging and inefficient. Pipes being coated must be heated and the application environment must be contained. Powdered fusion-bonded epoxy (FBE) coatings are more efficient to apply than liquid epoxies in the cold, as both require preheating, but liquids also require an energy-intensive heated cure.
Looking for an alternative, KEYMAY Industries asked Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine to develop a powdered FBE that could be applied at a lower temperature than what’s required for conventional FBEs. The resulting low-application temperature (LAT) FBE, known as PipeClad 2000 LAT, requires 85 degrees F less heat, leading to lower heating costs, reduced emissions and other benefits.
Dhamra Angul Pipeline Project, an integral component of the Jagdishpur – Haldia & Bokaro – Dhamra Natural Gas Pipeline Project
The Dhamra Angul Pipeline Project is a strategic investment, spanning 256 miles through nine districts and 386 villages in the state of Odisha, India. The project highlights GAIL's commitment to expanding India’s energy infrastructure while ensuring regional development.
This pipeline moves natural gas from the Dhamra LNG Terminal, the only one in eastern India, facilitating energy access to 14 districts. The project enables the supply of PNG and CNG, benefiting 310,000 households and 124 CNG stations. It fulfils the energy demands of the IOCL Paradip refinery and steel industries, supporting industrial growth and sustainable energy access.
The Dhamra Angul Pipeline navigated challenging terrains, including dense forests and 488 crossings of railways, highways, and water bodies. The eight mile forest stretch posed significant challenges. It also involved horizontal directional drilling at 125 locations.
Damage Prevention Competency Training Pilot – A Case Study of Supporting Workforce Development
The infrastructure sector is facing multiple challenges in the global landscape – from the energy transition to increased investor and insurance pressures to a growing talent shortage. This project initiated by partnering companies TC Energy, FortisBC, SaskEnergy and Jiva Consulting, involves the development of training based on a set of Damage Prevention (DP) Competencies previously developed under the umbrella of the Canadian Industry Association. The project has two goals:
Develop and make accessible training on the much needed area of responding to unauthorized crossings.
Demonstrate one of the ways that the competency system can be used – in this case to more rapidly develop high quality training based on peer-reviewed content.
A collaborative effort, the project involves the development of training and assessment based on one of the 30 competencies identified for DP. In addition to leveraging the training for their own organizations, the project has been structured to allow the rest of the industry to also access the material.
Sewer Project of the Year
Sewer System Assessment and Rehabilitation Planning- City of Fort Oglethorpe, Ga.
The city of Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., needed to complete a sewer collection system inflow and infiltration analysis to precisely identify deficiencies for repair and maintenance planning.
Rain Derived Inflow and Infiltration (RDII) is often challenging to isolate within a sewer collection system. This project applied a “system triage” approach by using distinct technologies to quickly assess the collection system’s defects. The triage approach involved:
SL-RAT Acoustic Pipe Inspection: 238,214 linear feet of sewer pipe were acoustically inspected to evaluate blockages and obstructions.
Micro Detection Sensors: 238,214 linear feet of sewer pipe were monitored using 187 level-based sensors deployed every 1,200 feet to detect inflow and infiltration sources.
Manhole Inspection: 1,168 manholes received a NASSCO Level 2 inspection to assess their structural condition and I&I contributions.
Area Velocity Flow Monitoring: Distributed to key areas within the Micro Detection Area.
Cottonwood & Hackberry Creek Wastewater Interceptor Improvements
Freese and Nichols; City of Irving, Texas
The Cottonwood & Hackberry Creek Wastewater Interceptor Improvements Project included replacement of two existing 36-inch and 42-inch sewer lines with one single 60-inch interceptor utilizing trenchless construction. Freese and Nichols, working with the city of Irving, Texas, took a microtunneling approach to construction of a new interceptor sewer in an urban area adjacent to an environmentally sensitive riverine area yielded many benefits: reduced interruptions within a highly populated and well-traveled project corridor, minimal permitting and environmental impacts of construction, and reduced impacts in landscape and pavement restoration.
The team’s design services began with an alignment study paired with comprehensive alternative analysis to replace approximately 13,000 linear feet of existing sewer main. The selected option included construction within the median of an adjacent roadway, alongside an existing flood control levee.
The plan for relocation of the proposed sewer main out of the floodplain eliminated risk of pipe damage from prolonged flooding events and riverbank erosion. Microtunneling for the roadway median alignment was also ideal for the area’s alluvial soils, excavation depth below the groundwater table, and proximity to the Trinity River. The chosen alignment also reduced the amount of bypass pumping, greatly reducing project costs. During construction, the team monitored critical underground infrastructure crossings for movement, specifically two 108-inch stormwater discharge lines and a 54-inch waterline.
Central Regional Wastewater System (CRWS) MC (Mountain Creek)-7 and MC-8 Relief Interceptor project
Trinity River Authority of Texas and Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam Inc.: To address aging infrastructure and increased wastewater demand from Grand Prairie, one of Texas's fastest-growing cities, the Trinity River Authority initiated the Central Regional Wastewater System Mountain Creek-7 and MC-8 Relief Interceptor project. The six-year, $25.6 million project upgraded wastewater infrastructure to enhance capacity, improve resilience, and ensure environmental sustainability.
The project replaced over 20,000 linear feet of aging interceptor pipelines with diameters ranging from 69 to 84 inches through a densely developed corridor. These upgrades mitigated risks of overflows and service disruptions while accommodating future growth. Challenges included traversing environmentally sensitive areas like the Fish Creek Forest Preserve, residential neighborhoods, and high-traffic roads, including a crossing under Interstate 20.
To meet these challenges, the project employed innovative solutions such as polymer junction boxes, which prevent long-term corrosion, and inverted siphons to navigate elevation changes without compromising flow efficiency. The use of temporary bypass systems ensured uninterrupted wastewater service during construction.
Emerging Technology of the Year
Live Dig Radar (LDR) Technology by RodRadar
PipeSentry Suite of Products by PipeSense
Infrastructure Map by 4M Analytics
Flowcrete by Thompson Pipe Group
Automated rod exchange on the Vermeer D24 HDD rig by Vermeer
PRO Reel by Vac-Con
PointMan by ProStar
Environmental Awareness Award
BOTAS Corporate Carbon Footprint Study and Renewable Energy Projects
BOTAS is a state economic enterprise that continues its activities in line with the principles of profitability and efficiency, operating in the oil and gas pipeline and related industries.
BOTAS carried out “The Corporate Carbon Footprint Study” to calculate and declare greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) resulting from all indirect and direct activities conducted in all facilities. In addition to transparently revealing its impacts on the environment, BOTAS aimed to provide quantitative data through carbon footprint calculations for determining and controlling targets related to climate change, managing climate-focused investments, and creating a tool to declare GHG emission indicators in international projects and reports.
All data collected and analyzed in the report were created based on the relevance, integrity, consistency, transparency and accuracy principles of the World Resources Institute GHG Protocol. BOTAS provided the primary data used in the study. For secondary data, calculations were made using IPCC, DEFRA conversion factors and the Life Cycle Assessment database Ecoinvent 3.9. Calculations were made within Scope 1, 2 and 3 (GHG Protocol) and Categories 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 (ISO 14064 -1).
Environmental Awareness: CIPP and Styrene
Dennis Pivin, NASSCO Inc.: Pivin, CSP is the Director of Health, Safety and Environmental for the National Association of Sewer Service Companies, more commonly known as NASSCO. Dennis has over 25 years of professional experience in safety, health, and environmental program development, implementation, and management. Prior to working for NASSCO, Dennis spent 19 years with Aegion LLC and is a Certified Safety Professional with the Board of Certified Safety Professionals. He currently serves as the president of the St. Louis Chapter of the American Society of Safety Professionals and is chair of NASSCO's Health and Safety Committee.
Over the past year at NASSCO, Dennis Pivin has been instrumental in building relationships with individuals and other associations and organizations committed to the protection of our workers and the environment.
Specifically, Dennis has developed relationships with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Styrene Information and Research Center (SIRC), and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), among others, to collaborate and share knowledge on the topic of potential health and environmental impact associated with styrene used in the cured-in-place pipe process. These partnerships have created opportunities to unite for one common purpose - to protect our communities and the people who live and work there.
Through this collaboration, Dennis has traveled across the country to oversee field testing at CIPP installations, has participated in industry roundtables along with other associations representing styrene producers and processors who collectively represent the majority of the North American styrene industry, has made multiple industry presentations on the importance of styrene safety to workers and the environment, and has worked with other NASSCO industry leaders to oversee ongoing studies funded by NASSCO on the topic of styrene emissions from the CIPP process, as well as a current study on potential impact of styrene and water cure on POTW.
Cured-in-Place-Pipe (CIPP) Rehabilitation Emissions Study
Center for Underground Infrastructure Research and Education (CUIRE)/Dr. Mo Najafi: The Cured-in-Place Pipe (CIPP) Rehabilitation Emissions Study signifies a pioneering effort to examine the environmental implications of a widely used trenchless method. This study, conducted by the Center for Underground Infrastructure Research and Education (CUIRE) at the University of Texas at Arlington, with support from the Water Research Foundation and DC Water, assesses air emissions, particularly Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), linked to various CIPP resins and curing techniques. The study integrates advanced air monitoring and modeling approaches to provide a complete dataset that enhances the industry's comprehension of the emissions profiles associated with CIPP sites.
The study addresses major gaps in understanding the characteristics and magnitude of VOC emissions during CIPP installation, emphasizing occupational safety and public health. It analyzes potential exposure pathways for hazardous emissions, determines essential safety zones, and formulates a framework for air quality assessment during and post-installation. The study conducts a comprehensive analysis of various resin types (polyester, epoxy, vinyl ester) and curing methods (hot water, steam, and UV), presenting a detailed comparison of emission profiles under diverse settings, thereby offering valuable insights for utility professionals and contractors.
Comprehensive data collection for this study has been carried out using advanced equipment and methodologies. Real-time monitoring was performed utilizing Photoionization Detectors (PIDs) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) to accurately measure VOC concentrations during CIPP installations. Additionally, a variety of air samples were collected using SUMA canisters and sorbent tubes to capture the full spectrum of potential emissions.
This study uses advanced air dispersion modeling to forecast ambient pollution concentrations in CIPP work zones, facilitating proactive risk mitigation actions. The results produce practical guidelines and optimal procedures to reduce emissions and guarantee adherence to environmental regulations.
Asset Management Project of the Year
Great Lakes Water Authority - WRRF Yard Piping Project/CDM Smith
To ensure reliable treatment of 1,700 million gallons per day (MGD) of wastewater, Great Lakes Water Authority needed to assess the condition and potentially rehabilitate more than 30 miles of underground support utilities that have been constructed in the last 90 years.
The Yard Piping project utilized a multi-prong approach to assess the condition of the gravity and pressurized sewer, potable and service waters, natural gas, steam, and compressed air systems. Various available tools and methods were evaluated to collect information on the condition of the underground utilities, and a toolbox of applicable methods was developed. Data collected through soil and pipe material tests, visual inspection and surface measurement, flushing and fire hydrants test, valve exercising, acoustic leak detection, tethered CCTV inspection, manhole inspection, and ultrasonic and electromagnetic pipe wall thickness measurements were used to perform a risk analysis of the assets. The result of quantitative risk analysis helped prioritize the rehabilitation practices required to improve the resiliency and reliability of the systems and improve their service life while reducing operation interruption.
Mary Rhodes Pipeline Ph 1 Condition Assessment Project
HDR Engineering performed the first condition assessment of the 101-mile, 64-inch diameter Mary Rhodes Pipeline Phase 1 which conveys over half of the city of Corpus Christi's water supply during an extended drought. The project included the following tasks:
Evaluation of 31 historical pipeline breaks
Over the line survey of soil corrosivity and stray currents imparted by crossing utilities
Aerial and bathymetric drone surveys of the remote pipeline
Hydraulic modeling and C-factor analysis
Pump station efficiency analysis
Internal condition assessment using a new, custom built inline acoustic leak detection tool
The structural integrity of the pipeline was found to be in good condition, but multiple pipeline threats were identified and were corrected or are in the process of being corrected. Three leaks were detected with the inline leak detection tool, and each was field verified and promptly addressed. This aspect of the project has resulted in a new tool being available to the industry to perform high resolution leak detection on large and long-distance pipelines.
St. Petersburg Force Main Inspection
CPM Pipelines and VA Engineering: St. Petersburg, Fla., water and sewer systems are increasingly vulnerable to corrosion, leaks and failures due to environmental conditions and the demands of a growing population. Through its partnership with VA Consulting, the city selected CPM Pipelines to deploy the Acquarius inspection technology for its first-of-a-kind inspection of a 4-mile, 24-inch ductile iron (DI) force main.
The Acquarius inspection technology was selected for its advanced capabilities and comprehensive deliverables. The inspection tool leverages a suite of cutting-edge sensors, including:
Ultrasound Sensors: Wall thickness measurements
Inertial Measurement Units: Track joint deflections and pipe alignment
Acoustic Sensors: Detecting gas pockets and leaks
Tracking Sondes: Precise pipe location mapping
The Acquarius technology captured a wide array of data points.
Water Project of the Year
Southwest Water Purification Plant, City of Houston
The city of Houston’s Southeast Water Purification Plant (SEWPP) was originally constructed in the 1980’s to provide water to the surrounding region. Treatment Module 1 (TM1) can treat 120 million gallons per day (MGD) of water. In 2007 Treatment Module 2 (TM2) was constructed to treat an additional 80 MGD of water. In August 2014, the city brought on BGE Inc. to perform a comprehensive evaluation of their facility and equipment at the SEWPP and provide recommendations for improvements to ease operations of the plant.
The Houston Southeast Water Purification Plant is built on an 11.97-acre site. The proposed thickener and backwash waste clarifier, and driveway extension were constructed in an open field area of the plant. A detention basin was constructed to address impervious cover changes. 2nd avenue was repaved, and drainage swales were recut to provide better drainage in the area. No trees were affected by any construction activities on this project. Storm inlets were protected with Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPP) principles and waste materials were properly disposed.
West Harris County Regional Water Authority - Segment C2
Gannett Fleming: The successful construction of West Harris County Regional Water Authority's (WHCRWA) and North Fort Bend Water Authority's (NFBWA) Surface Water Supply Project (SWSP) Segment C2 was a crucial start to the larger SWSP program, which includes over 55 miles of large diameter pipeline and two large pump stations.
The SWSP undertaken by WHCRWA and NFBWA is a significant response to the escalating water demands of the Houston area and subsidence mitigation. Mandates by the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District and Fort Bend Subsidence District spurred the SWSP, which involves infrastructure improvements and new pipeline and pump station construction, aiming to provide surface water from Lake Houston through the City of Houston’s Northeast Water Purification Plant (NEWPP) to Houston-area customers.
Segment C2 included over 4.5 miles of 84-inch pipeline to move water west towards the WHCRWA Central Pump Station. The project team designed and managed the construction of this pipeline through an urban corridor with many challenging crossings and narrow corridors.
The project embraced the utilization of monolithic insulating joints (MIJ), a relatively new technology, to isolate sections of the program’s pipelines for cathodic protection. This strategic implementation of MIJs not only facilitated the attainment of design pressure requirements, but also provided effective cathodic isolation wherever installed, thereby contributing to an extended design life of the pipeline.
The project also incorporated an innovative approach to each tunnel section by designing around a vertical pipe in the tunnel shaft to get to the depth required for each tunnel crossing. UI