Horizontal/Subsurface Infrastructure & Transportation

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  • 1.  Can Anyone Identify These Vertically Stacked Concrete Pipes?

    Posted 10-03-2018 11:21 PM
    Edited by Tirza Austin 10-03-2018 11:21 PM
    In South Texas, near Edinburg Texas, there are many pipelines (viaducts?) that are carrying water over another open channel of water.  For example, there is one located at these coordinates:  26°19'57.17"N 98° 4'26.31"W.  What are these vertically stacked concrete pipes and what function do they serve?  Please explain! My curiosity is driving me nuts! 

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    Ben Browning P.E., M.ASCE
    Carmel IN
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  • 2.  RE: Can Anyone Identify These Vertically Stacked Concrete Pipes?

    Posted 10-04-2018 07:51 AM
    Edited by Tirza Austin 10-04-2018 07:50 AM
    Thank you Ben for an Interesting puzzle!

    I'm not into hydrology, but these vertical shafts might be the equivalent of "safety valves" that can resist pressure up to a certain degree. These vertical shafts, presumably connected to the horizontal pipes (the "aqueduct") so as to make sure that the pressure in the aqueduct will remains within a preset limit. That limit equals the height of the shaft times the unit weight of water. Should pressure increase for whatever reason, water will flow out of the top of shafts.

    That raises the question: what can raise water pressure that much? Is the aqueduct connected to a dam (with the potential if rising water level)?


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    Neil Kazen, M.Eng., M.Sc., P.Eng.
    FASCE, FCPCI, FEC,
    Retired Structural Engineering Manager, Transportation Division, SNC-Lavalin
    Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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  • 3.  RE: Can Anyone Identify These Vertically Stacked Concrete Pipes?

    Posted 10-04-2018 05:01 PM
    Edited by Tirza Austin 10-04-2018 05:01 PM
    Ben,

        I am retired from the Texas Department of Transportation.  As I remember, these are part of the waste water drainage system, not part of our storm drain system.  The main pipe is about the elevation of the base of the irrigation canal which cannot be interfered with.  So they install a siphon, so called, to push the flow under the canal.  I had the same question on my first visit to the Valley but finally saw the details when I was doing hydraulic plan review.

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    James Justin Mercier, P.E.
    Life Member ASCE
    Sr. Life Member IEEE
    Austin Texas
    512-442-4016
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Can Anyone Identify These Vertically Stacked Concrete Pipes?

    Posted 10-04-2018 05:01 PM
    Edited by Tirza Austin 10-04-2018 05:01 PM
    Naturally, once I posted my answer, all the other (and more correct) answers pop up for me to see!  Thank you all.  But, I think I know what Ben was thinking when he saw them:  "Boy, that's strange!"

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    James Justin Mercier, P.E.
    Life Member ASCE
    Sr. Life Member IEEE
    Austin Texas
    512-442-4016
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    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Can Anyone Identify These Vertically Stacked Concrete Pipes?

    Posted 10-04-2018 07:52 AM
    Edited by Tirza Austin 10-04-2018 07:51 AM
    Those are vents for the irrigation system. See A Field Guide to Irrigation in the Lower Rio Grande Valley page 172.

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    Marvin Gomez P.E., M.ASCE
    GRV Integrated Engineering Solutions LLC
    El Paso TX
    (915)351-6701
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  • 6.  RE: Can Anyone Identify These Vertically Stacked Concrete Pipes?

    Posted 10-04-2018 09:53 AM
    Edited by Tirza Austin 10-04-2018 09:53 AM
    I was going to send the same response but you beat me ... irrigation is required in central/southern Arizona. The "head" required to flow the irrigation across the ditch may require the "standpipes" on either side of the ditch.

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    [Al] [Field] Aff.M.ASCE
    [President]
    [Al Field & Associates]
    [Phoenix] [AZ]
    [602-616-3618]
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    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: Can Anyone Identify These Vertically Stacked Concrete Pipes?

    Posted 10-04-2018 09:58 AM
    Edited by Tirza Austin 10-04-2018 09:58 AM
    ​They might also be for the pipeline that crosses the canal.  Another set of these appear just to the West at Brush Line Road.  The Texas Railroad Commission public GIS viewer shows pipelines at both of those locations.  http://wwwgisp.rrc.texas.gov/GISViewer2/  zoom to this location on their map and turn on the identify (I button at top) pipelines layer.  A bit robust for ventilating a pipeline crossing sleeve, but if it's the materials you have and the price is right....

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    David Vanaman P.E., M.ASCE
    Assistant General Counsel
    WSP USA Inc
    Herndon VA
    (703) 464-8334
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    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: Can Anyone Identify These Vertically Stacked Concrete Pipes?

    Posted 10-04-2018 09:55 AM
    Edited by Tirza Austin 10-04-2018 09:55 AM
    These concrete pipes are locally called "Standpipes" and they are an integral part of an underground irrigation system.  The pipes serve as either an air release or are installed with valves that can direct water to a particular agricultural fields such as an orange grove, etc.

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    Jorge Perez P.E., L.S., M.ASCE
    VICE PRESIDENT
    Perez Cons Engrs
    McAllen TX
    (956) 631-4482
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  • 9.  RE: Can Anyone Identify These Vertically Stacked Concrete Pipes?

    Posted 10-04-2018 05:00 PM
    Edited by Tirza Austin 10-04-2018 05:00 PM
    ​I believe those are irrigation standpipes; right?

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    Thomas Benson P.E., M.ASCE
    President and CEO
    Leighton Consulting
    Glendora CA
    (626) 914-0055
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