Removal of a 1 3/4" structural metal tie-back from an 18" storm pipe

Sewer Robotics System Solves Four Year Storm Drain Mystery

Location: Calexico

An accidental misalignment of a lateral drilling operation at this site caused the drill to bore through an 18-inch storm drain. When the anchoring grout was pumped into the annular space, it filled the storm drain, causing a stoppage and leaving this 1 3/4″ diameter tie-back rod as a fixed obstruction. After four years of other attempts to remedy the problem, they called Pacific Sewer.

We used our hydraulic cutting attachment for our Sewer Robotics system to grind through the rod and our hydraulic grabber to remove it once it was free. We trimmed the tie-back stubs flush to pipe diameter so the pipe could be easily lined once the pipe was fully clear.