Holladay Tyler Road
Solving the Unsolvable
Caliber was approached by the property manager and owner to perform a comprehensive site assessment after a previous tenant discovered a leak in this large industrial property. Caliber created a complete record of events to uncover the cause of the leak and provide a permanent solution, restoring high-level performance to the site.
After previous assessments and investigations failed to uncover the root cause of the leak, Caliber recreated the full timeline of the structure from historical photographs and reviewing tenant data. After extensive dye testing, video line testing, and water sampling that uncovered a unique type of bacteria in the water, it was determined that a leak from a bad pipe fitting embedded 15 feet deep into a wall was the root cause. By taking the extra steps, testing comprehensively, and utilizing our extensive experience, Caliber was able to provide a solution to a problem previously thought unsolvable and restore the property to full productivity.
After previous assessments and investigations failed to uncover the root cause of the leak, Caliber recreated the full timeline of the structure from historical photographs and reviewing tenant data. After extensive dye testing, video line testing, and water sampling that uncovered a unique type of bacteria in the water, it was determined that a leak from a bad pipe fitting embedded 15 feet deep into a wall was the root cause. By taking the extra steps, testing comprehensively, and utilizing our extensive experience, Caliber was able to provide a solution to a problem previously thought unsolvable and restore the property to full productivity.
Location
The structure is located just off the main boulevard to the west. Between
the structure and the main road is a waterway, and the main public sewer main
runs adjacent and along this tributary.
Structure Historic Timeline
Based on historic aerial imagery, the structure was built in the late ’60s and saw multiple improvements in the ’90s including ADA and tenant-driven canopies. In 2005 a Temple was structured adjacent to the structure and residential development followed in 2006. These two developments utilized the Sanitary Sewer connections in Holladay Tyler Road however do not describe or alter the site connections.
This pipe flows out of the production floor into their warehouse portion before turning 90 degrees into the basement wall of the former tenant's space. This pipe runs along the wall on hangers about 150’ before turning 90 degrees again and going below the floor slab and to the exterior of the building. The grease trap is located on the lawn just west of the structure.
Food Services Tenant
In early 2018, a large tenant in the food services industry made improvements to the facility and, as you can see from the photos below, a grease interceptor was constructed on the west side of the structure. This interceptor handles the process waste and includes a tray and clothes washer. These items are discharged through the structure with a newly installed 6” SDR-40 PVC pipe.This pipe flows out of the production floor into their warehouse portion before turning 90 degrees into the basement wall of the former tenant's space. This pipe runs along the wall on hangers about 150’ before turning 90 degrees again and going below the floor slab and to the exterior of the building. The grease trap is located on the lawn just west of the structure.
Sanitary Concerns
The previous tenant of the lower portion of the structure noticed a water leak around the recently installed process waste line and notified the property manager and owner. The property
manager and owner assembled a team to research the facility and determine the cause of the leak. Concurrently the team took samples of the water leaking from the wall and it was found to have bacteria consistent with human waste within the water.
A push camera was used to televise a lateral within the tenant space to find the main domestic sewer line, a corroded 6” DIP pipe with multiple blockages. The pipe is 15’ below the production floor and roughly 3’ below the lower space. There was concern that this pipe was broken and therefore jetting was not performed on this line.
The assumption leaving this work was that this lateral was causing the bacteria to appear in the wall and leak inside the space.
Early Testing
Due to the nature of the tenant and concerning test results, the property management team called in help from various sources and backgrounds. Dye testing was performed to try and trace out the domestic sewer lines within the structure as well as video inspection of the pipes within the structure. Based on the vastness of the structure and no background plans. The team made every effort to locate the problem.A push camera was used to televise a lateral within the tenant space to find the main domestic sewer line, a corroded 6” DIP pipe with multiple blockages. The pipe is 15’ below the production floor and roughly 3’ below the lower space. There was concern that this pipe was broken and therefore jetting was not performed on this line.
The assumption leaving this work was that this lateral was causing the bacteria to appear in the wall and leak inside the space.
Additional Testing
It was clear based on the sewer issues, preliminary testing, and the discovery of unusual ponding in the loading dock area that engineering firms and video testing would be required to understand the breadth of the issue.
We used a crawler camera to video 272’ from the structure placing us just inside the tenant's production floor where we came to a tee. That tee is the same line observed in the early testing. This line was 8” DIP and was also corroded. The line was extremely filthy in places and included multiple connections for other bathroom flows or vents. Based on the elevation of the domestic sewer line, it is very unlikely to be flowing through the wall as observed. For reference, the domestic sewer line is roughly 10’ below the process sewer line. This testing also showed the need for overall repairs and corrective action unrelated to the water leak in the wall. Those are listed below.
Later, the team returned to the site to gain access to the production area. The same 60’ piece of pipe was re-inspected and it was remarked that the line seemed to have blockages but did seem to be intact. Again, based on the depth of the line, this domestic line is unlikely to cause water to leak through the wall. Additionally, the process line installed by the tenant was inspected and found to have broken gaskets in the vicinity of the wall leak. At this time, we are focusing our attention on this area as the likely source of the leak. We do not believe this area leaks under normal conditions, however. It seems the velocity of water observed as well as the temperature of the discharge has made this area deteriorate.
Video Line Inspection
Additional video inspection was performed on November 18th and 19th with a combination of push cameras and crawler cameras. We were able to locate a manhole outside the west side of the structure under a Storage Container. Caliber was able to arrange for the container to be relocated. The manhole in the parking lot outside of the west side of the structure began to bring the pieces of the puzzle together. We observed that the grease interceptor flows into this manhole. We noted that when the washer is being run, the flow from the interceptor is substantial. Additionally, we noted that vents on the interceptor also discharged bubbles at the same time.We used a crawler camera to video 272’ from the structure placing us just inside the tenant's production floor where we came to a tee. That tee is the same line observed in the early testing. This line was 8” DIP and was also corroded. The line was extremely filthy in places and included multiple connections for other bathroom flows or vents. Based on the elevation of the domestic sewer line, it is very unlikely to be flowing through the wall as observed. For reference, the domestic sewer line is roughly 10’ below the process sewer line. This testing also showed the need for overall repairs and corrective action unrelated to the water leak in the wall. Those are listed below.
Later, the team returned to the site to gain access to the production area. The same 60’ piece of pipe was re-inspected and it was remarked that the line seemed to have blockages but did seem to be intact. Again, based on the depth of the line, this domestic line is unlikely to cause water to leak through the wall. Additionally, the process line installed by the tenant was inspected and found to have broken gaskets in the vicinity of the wall leak. At this time, we are focusing our attention on this area as the likely source of the leak. We do not believe this area leaks under normal conditions, however. It seems the velocity of water observed as well as the temperature of the discharge has made this area deteriorate.
Water Sample Results
Tests were taken on this property in multiple places. The tests showed some interesting results and additional areas of concern.- First, the clothes washing machine within the tenant's space showed bacteria found in human waste. It is our understanding that this washing machine is used for rags, aprons, and similar “clothes”. The sample was taken outside of the sewer main or lateral so the conclusion of the test is that the machine itself contains the bacteria.
- Second, a second test was taken at the tray dishwasher. The results showed that this dishwasher had very high levels of Chloride however was free of the bacteria described above. Again, this test was not taken in the process line, it was taken within the air gap of the machine.
- Tests were taken from the area of the leak within the former tenant's space. This test result showed E. Coli and the presence of human waste. The chloride levels were elevated as well but not as high as found in the dishwasher.
- As mentioned above, tests were also taken from puddles within the loading dock area. These tests showed very high levels of chloride as well as the same E.Coli and human waste bacteria.
Air Testing Results
- The sleeve around the 4” PVC was leaking with hot water prior to testing and slowed as bakery machines stopped dumping water.
- 4” PVC was cut and fittings between basement and bakery were inspected by camera.
- The pressure testing confirmed the bad fitting/leak in the section of pipe tested. Pressure could not be maintained during repeated testing.
- Pipe was operational after gluing PVC back together at the conclusion of testing.
- Hydrostatic pressure could not be performed due to Bakery operations at the time of testing.
Conclusion and Solutions
The leak in the wall in the prior tenant's space is from the bad pipe fitting in the process lineAfter going the extra mile to assess, understand, and diagnose the problem, we were able to fix the issue that had previously been assumed to be a groundwater leak that was simply bad luck and could not be avoided. We restored the site to full operational capacity, saving our client massive amounts of money while ensuring the health and safety of all on-site employees.
Featured Team Member
Nicholas Neeser
Account Director
Nick Neeser is one of Caliber's primary account coordinators, working side by side with our partners every day. His knowledge and experience provide our customers with consistent satisfaction through quality service, ensuring we go above and beyond to manage every aspect of our client's property needs. Nick embodies our dedication to creating solutions specifically tailored for our clients and helps facilitate our strategies across his client portfolio.
Nick is a graduate of Penn State University, with additional software programming coursework taken at MIT. He currently lives in Philadelphia and enjoys snowboarding.
Nick is a graduate of Penn State University, with additional software programming coursework taken at MIT. He currently lives in Philadelphia and enjoys snowboarding.
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