Having access to clean drinking water is the most natural thing in the world, but if demand grows, the waterline network will have to grow accordingly. For the expansion of the drinking water network in the area of the picturesque coastal town of Myrtle Beach in South Carolina, Brownline surveyed a 2300-foot long drill in January and February 2021.
This project consists of replacing an existing PVC pipeline with a diameter of 38” with a new steel wall pipeline with a diameter of 48”. This expansion means that the ever-growing demand for drinking water can be met both now and in the future. The trajectory of the drill is set out between two local highways, Highways 701 and 544, and follows the same route as existing overhead power lines. Between these two highways is a nature reserve, through which the Waccamaw River runs. This nature reserve consists largely of vulnerable wetlands and is classified as a national park.
The drill crosses the Waccamaw River and both entry and exit points are located within the nature reserve. During the drill, there were constantly changing ground conditions. Drilling was done through layers of wood, silt, gravel, clay, but also soft and hard cemented sands. Surveying this challenging drill required extreme control to prevent outbreaks and damage to nature.
With the Drillguide Gyro Steering Tool, this complex drill was carried out successfully and Myrtle Beach and surroundings can continue to count on their drinking water supply network.