Many municipalities increasingly adopt polyurea solutions to manage infrastructure repairs in-house, reducing reliance on external contractors for costly maintenance and restoration projects. This strategic shift optimizes budget allocations, conserves taxpayer funds, and enhances the durability of critical infrastructure, including manholes, wastewater systems, and stormwater management structures. By implementing long-lasting protective coatings, cities and towns across the country are improving the resilience and sustainability of their essential public assets.
Cutting Costs Without Cutting Corners
Hiring specialized contractors to do traditional infrastructure repairs can take a lot of time and can be quite expensive. However, it has been observed that municipalities can perform repairs quickly, effectively, and with longer-lasting durability than they could with epoxy, cementitious liners, or fiberglass by purchasing polyurea spray equipment and educating personnel on how to apply it.
Polyurea’s curing time is quite fast, which means that municipal services can be restored within a short time frame. The advantage of using polyurea is that it can be applied in almost any condition, which is useful for both repair of the emergency and scheduled maintenance.
Manhole Rehabilitation: A Case for Polyurea
Manholes are among the most failure-prone elements of wastewater infrastructure. Problems such as hydrogen sulfide gas exposure, groundwater infiltration, and normal wear and tear can result in expensive failures. Polyurea coatings are better than the available options since they form a single-piece, non-porous shield that is resistant to chemical attack and physical wear.
Some municipalities that have decided to do it themselves (DIY) with polyurea can restore manholes without having to wait for third-party contractors to become available. Some of the cities that have adopted in-house manhole lining projects with the help of polyurea are San Antonio, Texas, and Columbus, Ohio, and have greatly reduced the costs and improved the service life.
Wastewater Infrastructure Renewal: Taking Control
This is one of the biggest challenges for municipalities: aging wastewater infrastructure. It is caused by concrete deterioration, infiltration and inflow (I&I), and chemical exposure, and can result in costly failures that affect public health and environmental safety. Polyurea is an ideal choice for rehabilitating wastewater tanks, lift stations, and clarifiers because it offers superior waterproofing, chemical resistance, and structural reinforcement.
By applying polyurea in-house, cities can prolong the lifespan of their wastewater infrastructure without spending a lot of money on expensive contractors. The material’s rapid cure time enables near-instantaneous return to service, with minimal downtime for critical systems.
Investing in Training and Equipment
It is important for municipalities to invest in the right equipment and training in order to fully embrace in-house polyurea applications. The Coatings Academy and the American Polyurea Association are organizations that provide hands-on training to help municipal teams learn how to apply polyurea. Some cities are now issuing public works teams with mobile spray rigs, which enables them to make repairs on demand.
At this time, it is recommended that municipalities include polyurea application as a part of their routine maintenance programs to help reduce long term costs and increase the resilience of their infrastructure.
The Future of DIY Municipal Infrastructure Repairs
As more municipalities recognize the economic and operational benefits of handling infrastructure repairs in-house, the demand for polyurea solutions continues to grow. The shift toward self-reliance in public works represents a significant evolution in how cities maintain their infrastructure, providing durable, cost-effective, and efficient solutions for common issues.
The ability to line manholes, rehabilitate wastewater structures, and seal infrastructure using polyurea is no longer a job exclusive to outside contractors. Cities that invest in this technology today will future-proof their infrastructure, reduce costs, and provide better services for their residents.
With polyurea’s proven track record of durability and adaptability, municipalities are empowered to take control of their maintenance needs—ensuring a smarter, more sustainable future for public infrastructure.
