When excavation wasn't an option near campus buildings, Pelican Underground used advanced UV-cured GRP lining to restore a university's sewer infrastructure over a single weekend — with zero disruption to campus life.
Pelican Underground is New Orleans’ trenchless sewer and pipe lining specialist — serving residential homeowners, commercial properties, industrial facilities, and municipalities across Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. We specialize in modern, no-dig solutions that repair or replace damaged underground pipes without excavating your yard, driveway, or infrastructure. From CIPP pipe lining and vertical stack lining to hydro jetting and sewer camera inspection, our licensed team brings decades of expertise to every project in New Orleans and across the Gulf Coast.
Our expert team delivers reliable sewer and drain services that protect your property while solving complex issues beneath the surface. With decades of experience and cutting-edge technology, we’re ready to tackle any sewer or drain challenge across Louisiana and neighboring states.
600 ft
Pipe Lined
25 ft
Below Surface
1
Weekend to Complete
50 yr
Design Lifetime
Property Type:
Major Research University, St. Louis, MO
Pipe Scope:
300 ft of 24-inch pipe + 300 ft of 12-inch pipe
Problem:
New pipes with failing seals
Saertex UV GRP Pipe Lining (CIPP)
ProKASRO Professional Curing Unit
Certified Saertex Installer
1 Weekend
50-Year Minimum
This wasn’t a typical repair job. The combination of depth, proximity to structures, and space constraints created a scenario where traditional excavation was not viable — and the stakes were high.
The failing sewer lines ran 25 feet below the surface. Excavating to that depth is a major civil engineering undertaking — requiring shoring, confined space protocols, and significant heavy equipment.
The pipe routes ran close to existing campus structures. Digging at that depth, in those locations, carried a real risk of undermining building foundations — a risk no university would accept.
The size of the excavation pit required to safely access the lines would have exceeded the allowable working area on campus. There was simply not enough space to dig, even if the other obstacles didn’t exist.
Pelican Underground deployed CIPP (Cured-in-Place Pipe) lining using premium Saertex UV GRP materials — the same technology trusted in demanding municipal and industrial applications worldwide. Here’s how the project was executed:
Before any liner was inserted, our team conducted a thorough sewer camera inspection of all 600 feet of pipe. This confirmed the location and nature of the failing seals, verified pipe geometry, and established the baseline condition — ensuring the correct liner specs were selected for both the 24-inch and 12-inch sections.
Using Pelican Underground’s certified expertise as a Saertex installer, the UV glass-reinforced polymer liners were precisely measured, cut, and staged for installation. The ProKASRO Professional Curing Unit — operating from our on-site box truck — was set up and calibrated to deliver consistent UV energy across the full liner length for both pipe diameters.
The Saertex UV GRP liner was inserted into the 24-inch main sewer line through existing access points — no new excavation needed. Once positioned, the ProKASRO unit pulled the UV light train through the liner, curing it in place from the inside out. The result: a structurally independent, jointless new pipe formed within the existing host pipe.
The same certified process was applied to the 12-inch line. Saertex UV GRP materials are engineered to conform precisely to the internal geometry of the host pipe, sealing all joints and defects without any ground disturbance. Both diameter liners were completed within the same weekend mobilization.
Following curing, a final camera inspection was performed to confirm complete liner adhesion, joint sealing, and structural integrity across all 600 feet. The university received documentation confirming the lines met their 50-year design life specification.
| Feasibility Near Buildings | Not viable — foundation risk | Fully viable — no excavation |
| Space Requirements | Large pit required — exceeded allowable area | Access through existing openings only |
| Time to Complete | Weeks to months | One weekend |
| Campus Disruption | Heavy equipment, closed paths, noise | Zero disruption to campus activity |
| Landscaping Impact | Lawns, sidewalks, hardscaping destroyed | All landscaping preserved |
| Design Life of Repair | Varies by new pipe material | 50-year minimum (Saertex certified) |
| Risk to Structures | High — potential foundation undermining | None |
The project was completed on schedule, within the allotted weekend window, with no disruption to the university’s campus operations, landscaping, or surrounding structures.
What would have taken weeks or months of traditional excavation and construction was completed in a single weekend mobilization.
By eliminating all excavation, the risk of undermining nearby building foundations was completely avoided.
All Saertex UV GRP liners are designed to meet a 50-year minimum service life — with significantly longer performance expected.
University and institutional infrastructure projects come with layers of complexity that demand a contractor with both technical certification and real-world experience. Pelican Underground brought the following to this project:
Whether you’re managing university infrastructure, a commercial facility, or a municipal system, Pelican Underground has the equipment, certifications, and experience to solve it — without digging up your property.
Contact Pelican Underground today to discuss your project. (504) 387-9909 | Open Daily 7am–9pm
