This past week we discovered a leak on a 6" mainline that runs along #13 Bear Tee. The pipe was sitting on a rock which caused the leak.
The pipe was exposed so that we could make the repair. The bread is used to plug the pipe and prevent any water from flowing while the repair is made. Once the repair is finished the bread is easily dissolved allowing the water to flow normally through the pipe.
The irrigation system on the Bear is made of HDPE or high density polyethylene pipe. In order to make the repair the pipe must be prepped with a scraper to remove any oxidation and then cleaned with alcohol wipes. To weld the pipe back together requires the pipe to be completely contaminate free.
An electro fusion machine is used to weld the coupling and pipe together. For this 6" line the weld time was a little over 8 minutes. The pipe and fitting then have to cool for 30 minutes prior to re-pressurizing the pipe.
Once the weld is complete and the pipe has cooled off its as good as new.