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Existing Pipe Removed

In this category of pipe replacement, the existing pipe is removed as part of the replacement process. The three main methods used to accomplish this – pipe reaming, pipe eating and pipe extraction - are described separately.

Removing the existing pipes without fragmentation is sometimes preferred for pipes representing pollution concerns. For instance, lead water pipes represent a health risk through absorption of lead into drinking water. In addition, some jurisdictions prefer to remove pipes such as asbestos concrete (AC) and cast iron (CI) rather than leave them in the ground.