Cross Bore Services
Cross bores remain one of the most persistent and costly challenges facing gas utilities, perhaps even the bane of their existence. A cross bore occurs when a gas line intersects with an existing utility such as a storm sewer, sanitary sewer, or other underground infrastructure. They may also occur due to the intersection of fiberoptic lines, electric lines, and water lines. While the concept is familiar to many in the industry, the risks are worth emphasizing: a single compromised line can lead to hazardous gas leaks, service interruptions, and significant threats to public safety. Cross bores pose different dangers: in electric lines they can cause electrocution and death, in fiber optics they can disrupt emergency phone lines, and in water lines they can trigger leaks that create soil loss, voids, or sinkholes. Beyond the danger to communities, cross bores can also undermine the integrity of underground systems and create financial liabilities that often reach into the millions for utilities, homeowners, and municipalities alike. Recognizing the critical nature of the problem, Utility Services Group (USG) offers comprehensive cross bore services that give utilities confidence in the safety and integrity of their systems.
Why Do Cross Bores Happen?
Cross bores most often occur during trenchless technology installations when underground conditions aren’t fully understood. Inaccurate or outdated utility maps, insufficient locates, and miscommunication between contractors and utilities can all contribute. Without a clear picture of existing infrastructure, new gas lines may unintentionally intersect with sewer or other utility lines, creating dangerous cross connections.
USG Cross Bore Solutions for Safer Infrastructure
While cross bores are hazardous, they are not without a solution! USG specializes in locating cross bores, helping gas utilities reduce the risk of costly accidents and protect public safety. Our team at USG utilizes several methods to locate cross bores:
- Gathering Data: Data is gathered using utility maps sourced from municipalities or local contractors. These maps are sometimes incomplete, outdated, or completely unavailable, making them a smaller piece of a larger puzzle.
- CCTV Camera Inspections: During this inspection, robotic cameras are run through sanitary or sewer lines. These cameras allow technicians above ground to visualize through a TV the conditions within the lines below. This camera footage can help spot existing cross bores.
- Potholing: Potholing is the process of hydro-excavation which digs holes that will expose utilities or gas lines. This method works best to actually confirm the location of underground lines.
- Sonde and Tracer Wire Locating: When utilities are installed with tracer wire or a transmitting sonde, these tools can be used to track the precise path of a line from above ground. This method provides accurate location data that complements CCTV and potholing efforts.
- GIS Mapping: During cross bore services, existing GIS mapping may be used upon request. Additionally, during the service more GIS data may be gathered, which can then be adding into existing GIS map data, offering a bigger picture of where underground utilities exist.
- Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and Electromagnetic Locating: Depending on site conditions, advanced geophysical tools such as GPR or electromagnetic locators can be used to detect and map subsurface utilities, supplementing other inspection methods.
USG: The Intersection of People, Safety, Service, and Technology
At USG, we understand that cross bore prevention isn’t just about finding lines underground. It’s about protecting people, safeguarding communities, and ensuring the reliability of critical infrastructure. By combining multiple locating methods, from CCTV inspections to GIS mapping and advanced technologies like GPR, our team delivers the accuracy gas utilities need to minimize risk.
Every project is supported by our commitment to safety and service. USG technicians work closely with gas companies to ensure inspections are thorough, data is reliable, and results are actionable. This integrated approach provides utilities with confidence that cross bores are identified and resolved before they can escalate into costly, dangerous incidents.
If your utility is seeking a trusted partner for cross bore services, turn to Utility Services Group. With our expertise, technology, and dedication to safety, we help you protect both your infrastructure and your community. Contact USG today to discuss how we can support your next project.