Case Study: Safeguarding Critical Water Supply with MULTI-SWELL®

INDUSTRY

Municipal Drinking Water and Agriculture

OPERATING CONDITIONS

Size: 40" to 96" HDPE flange connections
Temperature: Ambient
Application: Pipeline flange and valve sealing
Media: Tap water and raw water
Pressure: 87 PSI

BACKGROUND

An EPC managing a large municipal water infrastructure project needed a dependable sealing solution for a high capacity irrigation system distributing water across 60,000 hectares. The system’s 96” HDPE pipelines delivered 40 cubic meters per second of water to multiple agricultural townships. A competitor’s gasket failed early in the project, prompting an urgent need for a sealing solution that could withstand flange relaxation, high flow rates, and the installation challenges of large, buried flanges.

CHALLENGES FACED

The competitor’s rubber gaskets delaminated and protruded into the pipeline due to poor surface fit and insufficient extrusion resistance. Under normal torque conditions, the rubber could not handle HDPE flange relaxation, leading to the risk of leaks and catastrophic failure. With this system being the main water source for numerous communities, any failure would have required extensive excavation and shut down the water supply to homes, businesses, crops, and livestock for weeks or longer.

SOLUTION AND BENEFITS

Garlock supplied double-dovetailed MULTI-SWELL® Style 3760 Compressed Fiber Gaskets with custom locating tabs, designed for reliable sealing and simplified installation on large flanges. MULTI-SWELL® delivered high crush and extrusion resistance, controlled swell, and better compressibility, effectively compensating for HDPE flange relaxation over time.

Thanks to Garlock’s fast response and outstanding gasket performance, the system sealed fully from startup. The project stayed on schedule and completely leak-free, safeguarding critical water infrastructure throughout the region and delivering preventative savings in the millions of dollars.