Challenge: The Village of Hamler’s wastewater treatment system was under critical stress due to advanced deterioration of its manholes. Persistent infiltration of groundwater, exacerbated by heavy rainfall, resulted in 168,000 gallons per day of excess water entering the lagoon system. This not only overwhelmed treatment capacity and reduced essential retention times, but also exposed the municipality to potential EPA violations and regulatory penalties. Underlying causes included severe hydrogen sulfide corrosion of concrete structures and substantial leaks around pipe penetrations issues that, if unaddressed, threatened both operational reliability and the long-term health of the community’s wastewater infrastructure.
Solution: To proactively address these urgent vulnerabilities, the Village of Hamler engaged ART, an OBIC-certified installer, to rehabilitate 25 of its most compromised manholes. The project was executed in phases to allow for continuous performance monitoring. Initial assessments revealed extensive H2S corrosion, active water intrusion at multiple pipe interfaces, and substantial groundwater inflow. ART deployed OBIC 2210 chemical grout to seal high-pressure leaks — even in cases where water was forcefully projecting across manhole interiors. Following leak cessation, each structure received the OBIC Armor multi-layer lining system, creating a seamless, robust barrier against future chemical and hydraulic attack. The selection of OBIC solutions was driven by the need for proven durability, rapid installation, and a warranty-backed, cost-effective alternative to full replacement.
Results: The benefits of OBIC’s technology were realized almost immediately. After rehabilitating just 10 manholes, infiltration dropped by 30,000 gallons per day. Upon completion of all 25, total daily infiltration during rain events was reduced from 168,000 to 75,000 gallons, a reduction of 93,000 gallons per day. The restored hydraulic integrity of the system enabled proper lagoon function, reinstated EPA compliance, and eliminated the risk of overflow events. OBIC Armor’s SWAT-tested durability and 10-year warranty provided assurance of long-term infrastructure resilience. Most critically, the village avoided the financial and operational burdens of full manhole replacement, achieving substantial cost savings while securing the future reliability of its wastewater network.
