Star City, Idaho, USA
Overview
The Star Sewer and Water District, Idaho faced a common challenge for growing municipalities: connecting a new water line while maintaining uninterrupted service to existing customers. The planned tie-in was located between two existing valves, with no practical way to isolate the section of pipeline without shutting down water service to residents.
Working alongside Ferguson Waterworks and AVT, the District identified an innovative solution—the AVT EZ Valve, an insertion valve technology that can be installed on a live water main without requiring a system shutdown. The project marked the District's first experience with insertion valve technology and demonstrated how modern infrastructure solutions can reduce disruption, installation time, and operational risk
The Challenge
The District needed to install a new connection on a 10-inch C900 water main. However, the location of the work presented a significant obstacle: The new line needed to be connected between two existing isolation valves, there was no way to shut down only the affected section of pipe, a traditional approach would have required disruption of water service to existing customers and the District required a compliant solution that met Build America, Buy America (BABA) requirements.
The Solution
Ferguson Waterworks' Municipal Sales Team identified the opportunity and introduced the Star Sewer and Water District to AVT and the EZ Valve technology.
Working closely with the District Engineer, AVT provided technical education on insertion valve technology and references from nearby municipalities already using the EZ Valve. AVT also provided documentation confirming BABA compliance and guidance throughout the specification and project-planning process.
The selected solution was a 10-inch AVT EZ Valve, installed directly onto the live water main.
The AVT EZ Valve is a patented inline insertion valve designed to be installed under pressure while maintaining system operation. The technology incorporates an integral isolation gate, allowing utilities to establish a new control point without shutting down service. The valve requires only a single excavation and can be installed on a variety of common pipe materials.
Installation
The installation was performed by Spencer Stone of Curb Box Specialist, an AVT-certified installer serving the Northwestern United States.
Installation Details
- Pipe Material: 10-inch C900 Water Main
- Valve Size: 10-inch BABA-compliant AVT EZ Valve
- Installer: Spencer Stone, Curb Box Specialist
- Installation Method: Live insertion valve installation
- Installation Time: Approximately 2 hours
The District Superintendent remained on site throughout the installation and witnessed the process first hand.
Results
The response from the Star Sewer and Water District was overwhelmingly positive.
The District had no prior experience with insertion valve technology and was impressed with both the simplicity of the installation and the speed with which the new valve was commissioned.
The Superintendent expressed confidence in the technology after observing the installation process and indicated that it would have no hesitation in utilizing AVT EZ valves on future projects.
An additional 8-inch EZ Valve has already been installed elsewhere in the District with discussions taking place regarding specifying AVT as the preferred insertion valve manufacturer within District standards.