City awards $365,530 contract to line aging storm pipes across city

The City of Charleston Finance Committee on Oct. 6 approved Resolution 25-97, awarding a $365,530 contract to Insight Pipe Contracting LLC to rehabilitate damaged storm sewer pipes using an internal lining process.

City engineering staff described the lining process as inserting a liner that expands and hardens inside the existing pipe to form a new structural shell; the technique avoids the cost and disruption of full open-cut replacement. Staff said this method typically increases flow capacity because it reduces internal friction even though the liner slightly reduces diameter.

Committee members asked where work would take place; staff said the project covers multiple sites across the city and that one area includes approximately eight pipes near the connector trail. The presenter said there is a list of 45 pipes included in this round and offered to email the list to committee members.

Decision: the committee moved and approved the contract by voice vote; the ayes were declared to have adopted the resolution.

Why it matters: lining extends asset life at lower cost than replacement and is part of the city's ongoing storm infrastructure maintenance program.