Cross bores pose a serious risk to municipalities, utility providers, and the public.

A cross bore occurs when a newly installed underground utility intersects an existing pipeline or utility line, and they often remaining undetected until future excavation or maintenance – or when something goes terribly wrong.

These hidden conflicts can result in severe consequences, such as gas leaks, sewer backups, and infrastructure failures.

Due to these potential dangers, it is crucial for municipalities to implement a robust cross bore prevention and mitigation strategy to uphold public safety, maintain regulatory compliance, and ensure long-term cost efficiency.

 

Understanding Cross Bores and Their Risks

Cross bores typically result from trenchless technology methods such as

Key Risks Associated with Cross Bores:

• Public Safety Hazards: Undetected cross bores in gas lines can lead to explosions, fires, and carbon monoxide poisoning
• Sewer System Compromise: A cross bore into a sewer line can result in blockages, causing sewage backups and property damage
• Infrastructure Damage: Repairing cross bores is costly and disruptive to local infrastructure, impacting businesses and residents
• Legal and Financial Liabilities: Municipalities may face lawsuits, regulatory penalties, and insurance claims due to cross bore incidents

 

Developing a Municipal Cross Bore Strategy

A municipal cross bore strategy should incorporate proactive prevention, thorough detection, and effective mitigation. The following steps outline a best-practice framework for developing a comprehensive and successful program.

1. Establish a Cross Bore Prevention Program: Preventing cross bores is the most effective way to mitigate associated risks. Municipalities should establish clear policies and procedures to reduce the likelihood of new cross bores occurring.

Implement Pre-Construction Planning

• Hire a professional utility locating and mapping company that also can conduct sewer pipe inspection services, to fully inspect and map your buried infrastructure
• Utilize Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping to maintain updated records of underground infrastructure
• Require utility coordination meetings before excavation projects commence

 

Enhance Contractor and Staff Training

• Develop mandatory cross bore awareness training for municipal workers and contractors
• Educate stakeholders on proper trenchless technology procedures and cross bore prevention techniques
• Encourage certification programs for HDD operators and inspection personnel

 

Enforce Rigorous Permitting and Oversight

• Require permits for all trenchless construction projects with a detailed utility conflict assessment
• Establish stringent regulations for directional drilling and excavation projects
• Conduct pre- and post-installation inspections to verify proper utility placements

 

2. Implement a Cross Bore Detection Program: Even with strong prevention measures in place, some cross bores may still occur. Implementing a structured detection program helps identify and address existing cross bores before they result in serious infrastructure failures.

 

Adopt Video Inspection Technology

• Hire a professional sewer inspection company to conduct Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) sewer inspections to detect potential cross bores
• Establish a schedule for routine inspections of high-risk areas
• Require post-construction CCTV inspections for all trenchless installations near sewer laterals

 

Encourage Public Reporting and Utility Collaboration

• Create a municipal reporting system where residents and plumbers can report suspected cross bores
• Develop partnerships with utility providers to share data on underground utility installations and previous cross bore incidents
• Implement a standardized process for investigating reports and prioritizing responses

 

3. Develop a Cross Bore Mitigation Plan: Upon detection, municipalities should implement a well-defined response protocol to address cross bores promptly and safely.

 

Establish Emergency Response Procedures

• Develop a standardized emergency response plan for gas-related cross bores
• Ensure coordination with fire departments, utility companies, and first responders
• Provide public safety alerts when high-risk cross bores are discovered in populated areas

 

Ensure Safe and Efficient Repairs

• Utilize non-destructive excavation techniques such as hydro-excavation to expose cross bores
• Develop repair protocols based on best practices and industry standards
• Require post-repair inspections to confirm the issue has been resolved

 

Regulatory Compliance and Industry Standards

Municipal cross bore programs must align with federal, state, and local regulations to maintain compliance and ensure the safety of residents. Relevant standards include:

• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Regulations for excavation and utility work
• Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) Guidelines for gas pipeline safety
• American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Standards for subsurface utility engineering (SUE)

Local Utility Coordination Laws requiring municipalities to work with public and private utility providers

Funding and Resource Allocation

Establishing and sustaining a cross bore strategy requires financial commitment. Municipalities should identify funding opportunities and explore cost-effective solutions to support their efforts.

 

Leverage Federal and State Grants

• Seek infrastructure improvement grants that support utility safety and modernization
• Apply for funding through agencies like the U.S. Department of Transportation and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

 

Implement Cost-Sharing Programs with Utilities

• Develop agreements with utility companies to share the costs of inspections and remediation
• Establish fee-based programs for developers and contractors to contribute to cross bore prevention efforts

 

Utilize Public-Private Partnerships (P3s)

• Collaborate with technology providers to pilot new detection methods at a lower cost
• Work with academic institutions and research organizations to develop innovative solutions for cross bore management

 

Let SiteMap® Help You Protect Your Municipality from Cross Bores

Cross bores pose a significant challenge in underground utility management, especially with the growing adoption of trenchless technology.

GPRS offers utility locating, mapping, and video pipe inspection services to give you and your team a clear understanding of the subsurface infrastructure in your project area. This ensures you know where it’s safe to trench or bore—and where excavation could lead to serious risks.

With a nationwide network of over 500 SIM and NASSCO-certified Project Managers (PMs) positioned in every major U.S. market, GPRS provides expert utility locating, mapping, and sewer line inspection services wherever you need them.

All this accurate, field-verified data is always at your fingertips thanks to SiteMap® (patent pending), GPRS’ project & facility management application that provides accurate existing conditions documentation to protect your assets and people.

Click below to schedule your live, personal SiteMap® demo today!