Background

On Wednesday the 10th of April mid-morning, Fortiline received an emergency call. A customer needed HDPE material, a fusion machine and fusion technician to fix a 24” sewer break that happened in Palm Beach County, FL.

The break was causing a portion of the ground alongside a nearby canal, to collapse. Raw sewage was spilling into the river. Residents in the area couldn't access their homes because of the incident, while others were asked to evacuate. Immediate action needed to be taken.

The challenge

Immediately, Fortiline set to work. The first challenge was sourcing the correct pipe and the fittings. We reached out to all our vendors, and within a few hours, we had everything ready to ship overnight. The materials were prepared for shipping with Friday 7am as the ETA on the job jobsite.

The solution

A fusion machine was sourced and Manuel Cuevas (Manny) our lead fusion technician packed up everything and left Thursday at 7am to pick up the machine, then take it to the jobsite, across the state, in West Palm Fl. He then set up the machine in order to be ready to start working on the repair next day when the pipe arrived.

The pipe and fittings arrived at around 10 am vs 7am. Manny worked all day Friday and then into the night until the break was fixed. After long hours of hard work and commitment, the break was fixed and the residents in the area were able to go back to their homes. 

Key results

This emergency repair was the best definition of true teamwork. Several small miracles were performed including rapidly sourcing the fusion machine and the special knife gate valves needed for the task.

Sam Heady, the district's utility director, said "I want to express my deepest appreciation for the exemplary dedication and tireless commitment demonstrated by our Utility staff and all involved parties throughout this emergency response.

Their unwavering resolve and collective efforts have been nothing short of phenomenal. In just three days, we have accomplished what would typically require over two weeks’ worth of work”.