The Amador Water Agency recently finished a project in the busy Highway 49 corridor using an innovative “trenchless” technology. The project consisted of improving the flow in a 6-inch sewer collection line located in the Martell area south of the Highway 49 near Airport Boulevard. The Agency’s Manager of Engineering and Planning Gene Mancebo explains that the Agency used “trenchless technology” to complete the project -- a construction process that minimizes or eliminates the need for trenching. A 322-foot segment of pitted iron pipe was relined in one day, without the need to dig a trench or replace the pipe. Mancebo said the process, “presents a cost savings by extending the life of the pipe, and avoiding potential problems which could include spills and the fines from those spills.” What could have been very expensive project, proved to be much less costly with the use of trenchless technology. The work was completed for approximately $20,000.