Municipal Water Main & Force Main Pipeline Pigging

In order for pipelines to work efficiently, they must be regularly maintained. Municipal water and force main pigging should occur on a frequent basis to keep pipes clear and running smoothly. Read on to learn more about American Pipeline Solutions’ process for municipal water main and force main pigging.

Maintaining municipal pipelines is critical to ensuring clean, reliable water delivery and preventing costly infrastructure failures. Municipal water main pigging and force main pigging help pipelines stay clear, operate efficiently, and extend their service life. At American Pipeline Solutions (APS), we provide comprehensive pipeline pigging services for municipalities, designed to address everything from minor debris buildup to significant pipe blockages.

Regular water main maintenance services and force main cleaning are essential for keeping pipelines in prime condition. Read on to learn more about APS’ pigging process for water mains, the equipment we use, and the benefits of consistent municipal pipeline maintenance.

Why Pipeline Pigging is Essential for Municipal Systems

Municipal pipelines face unique challenges, including sediment accumulation, scale, corrosion, and debris that can reduce water flow or cause blockages. Pipeline pigging services for municipalities help prevent these issues, ensuring that water mains and sewer systems operate efficiently.

By implementing a regular pigging schedule, cities can:

• Prevent clogs in municipal sewer and water mains

• Remove pipeline debris and restore flow in aged or cast iron pipelines

• Minimize maintenance costs and reduce the risk of emergency repairs

• Implement scaling prevention in water mains using specialized coatings or cleaning methods

APS’ municipal services include water main cleaning services, force main maintenance, and advanced inspections for pipeline integrity. Our team ensures that your infrastructure remains reliable and compliant with regulatory standards.

American Pipeline Solutions’ Municipal Water & Force Main Pipeline Pigging Process

Similar to the typical pigging process, APS has the equipment and expertise needed to clean municipal water and force mains. APS provides the necessary equipment for pigging including pigs, APS design-build pig launchers and receivers, lagoons, pumps and all other ancillary equipment.

APS employs a meticulous and proven pressurized pigging process for both water mains and force mains. The process is slightly different from standard pigging, as force mains remain under pressure throughout cleaning.

Step-by-Step Pigging Process

1. Preparation and Setup: APS installs pig launchers and receivers at strategic points, or retrieves pigs from a terminus manhole for optimal efficiency.

2. Tracking and Monitoring: Each pig is equipped with a pipeline pig tracking system to ensure accurate location tracking during the run. Force main pig retrieval is carefully coordinated to prevent interruptions.

3. Insertion and Propulsion: The pig is placed into the launcher, and pumps are activated to push it through the pipeline. APS monitors water pressure and pipeline debris removal throughout the process.

4. Inspection and Verification: After the pig completes its run, APS assesses the amount of debris removed, checks for clogged water main solutions, and ensures the pipeline is fully cleaned and restored.

This process can be repeated as needed, depending on the size, age, and condition of the pipeline.

What Issues Can Municipal Water & Force Main Pipeline Pigging Solve?

Regular water main maintenance can prevent major issues in sanitation systems. Significant impact has also occurred to some industries due to aging cast iron piping that becomes greatly restricted by tuberculation. APS offers numerous solutions for this problem, including pigging, rotary head technology, and Picote mechanical. APS can also apply a thin epoxy coating to the newly cleaned pipe, which will stop any future scaling. All these methods will navigate multiple elbows.

Municipal pipelines face a variety of challenges that can compromise flow and sanitation. APS addresses these issues using advanced pigging techniques:

• Tuberculation in cast iron pipes: APS can remove tuberculation from cast iron pipes and restore proper flow.

• Scaling and corrosion prevention: Epoxy coating for water mains can be applied after cleaning to prevent future scaling.

• Debris and blockage removal: Pipeline debris removal, clogged water main solutions, and municipal sewer blockage cleaning are handled efficiently.

• Navigation of complex pipelines: Our methods, including rotary head pipeline cleaning and Picote mechanical cleaning, can navigate multiple elbows and bends.

By addressing these issues proactively, APS helps municipalities avoid emergency repairs, reduce downtime, and maintain a safe water supply.

Frequency of Municipal Pipeline Pigging

The ideal schedule for water main maintenance services and force main maintenance depends on pipeline size, material, and age. APS typically recommends cleaning municipal pipelines every 1–5 years. Regular pigging reduces the likelihood of major issues and ensures the continued efficiency of municipal water main pigging programs.

Additional Services and Equipment

APS offers a wide range of specialized equipment to support municipal pipeline maintenance, including:

• Pig launchers and receivers

• Pigging equipment rental for municipal operations

• Pumps for pressurized pigging process

• Tracking and monitoring devices as part of our pipeline pig tracking system

Our team also provides municipal pipeline pigging services tailored to the unique needs of cities, helping with water main restoration services and long-term infrastructure maintenance.

Why Choose American Pipeline Solutions?

As a leading pipeline pigging company in the USA, APS combines expertise, advanced equipment, and proven processes to deliver safe, reliable, and efficient pipeline maintenance. Municipal clients benefit from our:

• Comprehensive pipeline pigging services for municipalities

• Expertise in sewer force main pigging, water main cleaning services, and force main cleaning

• Innovative cleaning techniques like rotary head pipeline cleaning and Picote mechanical cleaning

• Capabilities for cast iron pipeline cleaning, epoxy coating for water mains, and scaling prevention

APS ensures that every pipeline is cleaned, restored, and monitored for long-term performance.

How Often Should a City Pig Its Pipelines?

The amount of time between water main pigging depends on the size of the pipe. Typically, we recommend a city pig its pipelines every 1–5 years. Consistent cleaning and maintenance of your pipes are recommended over reactionary pigging after a problem has occurred. Clients that schedule cleaning on a regular basis rarely have major issues with their pipelines.

Contact American Pipeline Solutions

Are you in need of professional municipal water main pigging, force main pigging, or water main restoration services? Contact American Pipeline Solutions today to learn more about our pipeline pigging services for municipalities and how we can help maintain the integrity of your infrastructure.

FAQs:

 What is municipal water main pigging?

Municipal water main pigging is a cleaning process that pushes a specialized tool, called a pig, through a water main to remove tuberculation, scale, and debris. This helps restore flow, improve hydraulic performance, and extend the service life of aging water infrastructure without immediate replacement.

How is force main pigging different from standard pipeline pigging?

Force main pigging is performed on pressurized sewer lines that remain under pressure throughout the cleaning process. APS uses a pressurized pigging method with pumps, launchers, receivers, and tracking systems to move pigs safely through the line, manage debris removal, and retrieve the pig without interrupting service.

What problems can water main and force main pigging solve?

Water main and force main pigging can remove tuberculation in cast iron pipe, clear debris and blockages, reduce scaling, and improve overall flow. When combined with options like rotary head cleaning, Picote mechanical cleaning, and epoxy coating, pigging helps prevent recurring restrictions and supports long-term pipeline reliability.

How often should a city pig its water mains and force mains?

The ideal pigging frequency depends on pipe size, material, age, and operating conditions. In most cases, APS recommends cleaning municipal pipelines every 1–5 years. Regular maintenance is far more effective than waiting for major blockages or failures, and clients who follow a schedule rarely experience severe issues.

Does municipal pipeline pigging affect water service for residents?

Pigging projects are planned to minimize service disruptions. APS designs each municipal pigging program around system layout, pressure zones, and available bypass options. Short-term impacts such as temporary discoloration or flow changes are managed through careful coordination, flushing plans, and clear communication with the utility and its customers.

What equipment does APS use for municipal water and force main pigging?

APS provides a full equipment spread for municipal pigging projects, including pigs, APS design-build pig launchers and receivers, pumps for pressurized pigging, lagoons where required, and tracking and monitoring devices. This integrated setup allows APS to clean, track, and verify each run safely and efficiently.

Can pigging help with tuberculated cast iron water mains?

Yes. Tuberculation is a common problem in older cast iron water mains, where internal buildup severely restricts flow. APS uses pigging, rotary head technology, and Picote mechanical cleaning to remove tuberculation and restore capacity. After cleaning, a thin epoxy coating can be applied to help prevent future scaling and corrosion.

What role does epoxy coating play after pigging municipal pipelines?

After a pipe has been cleaned and dried, APS can apply a thin epoxy coating to the internal surface. This coating helps prevent new scale from forming, protects against internal corrosion, and supports long-term flow efficiency. It is particularly valuable for aging cast iron mains that cities want to keep in service longer.

How does APS track pigs during municipal pigging projects?

Each pig is monitored using a pipeline pig tracking system that records its position as it moves through the line. APS uses tracking and monitoring devices to confirm location, manage retrieval, and ensure pigs pass critical points as planned. This reduces risk and helps document the effectiveness of every cleaning run.

Why should municipalities choose APS for water main and force main pigging?

APS specializes in municipal water main pigging and force main pigging, combining field-tested processes with purpose-built equipment and advanced techniques like rotary head and Picote mechanical cleaning. We focus on restoring flow, preventing blockages, and supporting long-term infrastructure health with solutions tailored to each city’s network and regulatory requirements.

Are you in need of water main pipeline pigging?

Contact American Pipeline Solutions today to learn more about pipeline pigging.