Why Texas Soil Keeps Breaking Underground Utilities

There is one root problem that often contributes to the most common causes of utility failures in Texas: the type of soil around the buried pipes. Because Texas has clay soil that expands and contracts, the way the soil moves can put pressure on the pipes and wires over time.

Why Texas Soil is So Difficult to Work with

The clay-based soil that we see is the most common in the Blackland Prairie belt, which runs through most of North and Central Texas. When a storm rolls through and the ground is wet, the soil expands. But it starts to shrink as the ground dries up.

This shrink-swell cycle repeats multiple times throughout the year, especially during seasonal changes. As a result, the buried pipe joints are constantly under steady, repeated stress.

When you get closer to the Western DFW area, the soil changes a little bit. Even though the soil in this area behaves differently, it can still cause challenges for buried infrastructure.

What is Happening Underground When the Soil is Swelling

Expansive clay pipe failures often happen due to the way the soil’s shrink-swell cycle puts pressure on the pipe joints. Then, slow leaks start to develop, which can lead to even bigger issues in the future.

If you’ve lived in Texas for any length of time, then you know that we have swings ranging from drought to flooding. As the biggest storms come through and dump water on the dry soil, it can cause the pipe bedding to wash out more quickly compared to soil in other, more stable climates.

To make matters worse, the freeze-thaw events that happen (such as the big storm in the winter of 2021) cause even more damage to the underground piping.

Ultimately, the loss of the pipe bedding and the pressure on the pipe joints can cause the system to fail.

How These Weather and Soil Conditions Affect the Underground Pipes

Depending on the ground condition and different types of utility infrastructure, there are a few common causes of utility failures in Texas:

Water Main Failures: Most of the time, one of the most common water main break causes is due to a joint pullout. Or, the older water main systems sometimes fail because the cast iron splits under the stress.
Sanitary Sewer Lines: Sometimes, we also see a Texas sewer line collapse because of tree roots that damage the pipes. The joints can be pushed out of place by the strength of the roots, causing all of the surrounding soil to shift.
Storm Drains: When the clay soil is expanding and moving seasonally, there is a risk of storm drain failure due to joint separation. These issues can also cause manhole displacement.

How Experienced Contractors Design Utilities to Accommodate Texas Conditions

When you need utility installation, one of the most important decisions you will make is hiring a local team that understands the soil conditions here in Texas. At Moss Utilities, we have years of experience with these types of projects, offering customized support for each site. Our team understands what works and what needs to be done for long-term utility performance, helping to reduce the risk by addressing the most common causes of utility failures in Texas.

We’ll assess your site and plans, then design the ideal utility installation to deliver reliable, long-term results. Some of the ways that we accommodate the clay soil conditions include:

Choosing the Right Bedding Material: Instead of using the clay soil as the pipe bedding, we’ll haul in granular fill. This strategy gives the proper support to the pipes and helps to reduce the risk of damage from expansive soil.
Ductile Iron and HDPE for Piping: The type of pipe materials also matters. Instead of using more rigid materials, we often recommend either ductile iron or HDPE because they have longer durability in soil shrink-swell conditions.
Joint Protection and Burial Depth: Finally, we make sure that the joints are protected and restrained to avoid pullouts. The right depth also matters because we can target the ideal soil conditions for the pipe placement.

What to Do When You Already Have a Utility Failure

If you are dealing with an emergency situation because of a utility failure, then it’s critical that you act fast to avoid severe damage. Timing matters, especially with a large failure such as a water main break. As the water continues flowing, it can cause serious damage to pavement and foundations in the area.

The good news is that there are utility contractors here in Utah that offer 24/7 emergency dispatch. During a critical situation, the issue can’t wait for business hours. Make sure to choose a full-service utility contractor that offers self-performed services, because the repair work is much faster when there aren’t any subcontractors involved.

FAQs

How does expansive clay damage water mains?

Expansive soil changes based on weather and water conditions, going through a shrink-swell cycle because of the way the clay expands with water and dries afterward. This cycle causes pipe joints to pull, which eventually leads to pipe failures.

Why do Texas pipes freeze when the frost depth is shallow?

Even if the freeze depth is shallow, it can still cause stress on the pipes if the system wasn’t designed to handle hard-freeze events. The proper installation is critical to prevent this type of pipe damage.

How deep should water lines be buried in Texas?

Understanding why water mains break in Texas will help you see why the proper depth is critical for water line placement. These depth requirements vary based on the type of pipe that is being used and the jurisdiction where it is installed. Our crew always confirms the local code to ensure that we are following all requirements.

Expert Support for Underground Utilities

Whether you are preparing to install underground utilities or you need help with changing your current utility placements, our team at Moss Utilities is just a phone call away. We offer full-service solutions and have a long history of success working on utility projects throughout the DFW area.

Contact our team to discuss your project and learn more about available services.