New Iberia, LA
Gulf Coast Underground (GCU) completed the New Iberia Sewer System Improvements project as part of the City’s efforts to improve system performance and identify sources of inflow and infiltration (I&I). A major component of the work involved performing 77,513 linear feet of smoke testing across multiple service areas. Testing was conducted in active neighborhoods and closely coordinated with City staff to minimize disruption and visually identify defects, cross connections, and illicit flows. Findings were carefully documented and served as the foundation for subsequent rehabilitation activities.
In addition to smoke testing, the project included 12,565 linear feet of gravity sewer cleaning and CCTV inspection to verify pipe conditions and guide targeted repairs. Using these results, GCU completed trenchless rehabilitation by installing 2,211 linear feet of 8″ cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) and lined 26 vertical feet of manholes with corrosion-resistant materials to protect against hydrogen sulfide degradation. Open-cut excavation was performed where necessary to replace structurally compromised mainline segments and address severe defects in service laterals.
GCU’s scope also included full restoration of disturbed surfaces, such as asphalt roadway patches, concrete sidewalk panels, and residential driveways. Additional fieldwork involved replacing cleanouts, adjusting risers to grade, and reinstalling manhole rings and covers to meet structural and accessibility standards. Crews operated under live flow conditions, implementing appropriate bypassing, traffic control, and safety procedures throughout construction.
All activities were tracked and documented through daily field logs and QA/QC processes, and results were submitted in GIS-compatible formats to assist the City in planning future phases of rehabilitation. Smoke testing results were supplemented with photographic documentation to ensure visual clarity of defects and system conditions.
The New Iberia project illustrates GCU’s ability to carry out multi-faceted SSES work—combining evaluation, trenchless and open-cut rehabilitation, and comprehensive reporting—delivered on time, within budget, and with minimal community disruption.
Specs
Project Data
- Start: November 2018
- Completion: March 2020
- Contract Amount: $399,746.40
- Owner: City of New Iberia
- Engineer: Domingue, Szabo & Associates, Inc.
Project Highlights
- 77,513 LF of smoke testing completed
- Targeted I&I across multiple zones
- 12,565 LF of sewer cleaned and televised
- 2,211 LF of 8″ CIPP installed
- 26 VF of manhole lining applied
- Open-cut pipe and lateral repairs
- On time and within budget
Contact
- Name: Susan H. Richard, P.E.
- Email: susanr@dsaengineering.com
- Address: 102 Asma Blvd., Suite 305, Lafayette, LA 70508
- Phone: (337) 232-5182 ext. 212