“Document everything.”
Spring startup season exposes more than operational stress. It also reveals what happened months earlier when systems were laid up poorly, maintenance steps were skipped, or warning signs were documented but not acted on. In this episode, Trace Blackmore connects that reality to a broader infrastructure problem: hidden damage inside pressure piping systems that operators often cannot see until a leak, rupture, or budget crisis forces action.
Why hidden pressure pipe problems are so expensive
Chris McDonald, CEO and President of CPM Pipelines, explains why pressure pipe inspection and rehabilitation deserve more attention from utilities and industrial facilities. His core point is practical: many owners are still making repair or replacement decisions without first getting a high-resolution look at the pipe’s actual condition.
That creates two risks. First, teams may spend too late, after a failure creates public, operational, or safety consequences. Second, they may spend too much, replacing long stretches of pipe when only a targeted section actually needs rehabilitation. Chris argues that better inspection narrows uncertainty and helps owners avoid both extremes.
Inspection first, then the right rehabilitation scope
A major theme in the conversation is that CPM Pipelines works across both inspection and rehab, which changes how projects are evaluated. Chris notes that many inspection firms inspect, and many rehab firms rehabilitate, but few do both. That difference matters because the best answer is not always the biggest project.
He shares an example of a recent force main inspection that showed half the line was in bad condition and half was in very bad condition, yet the data still allowed the agency to target the rehab scope precisely. According to Chris, that approach saved a small utility of almost $10 million. He also explains why trenchless rehab can often reduce project schedules from months to weeks and save roughly 50% compared with traditional dig-and-replace work.
Leadership, documentation, and building the right team
The conversation also moves beyond pipelines into business leadership. Chris reflects on entrepreneurship, the value of solution-driven work over commodity selling, and the importance of documenting systems early if a company intends to scale.
He also emphasizes team alignment, core values, and recognizing quickly when someone is in the wrong seat. For owners and managers, that part of the episode is as useful as the technical discussion. The takeaway is clear: strong execution depends on both sound field data and disciplined internal systems.
Pressure pipe problems are often invisible until they become urgent. This conversation shows why better inspection, better decision timing, and better documentation can improve both infrastructure outcomes and business results.
Listen to the full conversation above. Explore related episodes below. Stay engaged, keep learning, and continue scaling up your knowledge!
Timestamps
01:18 — A call to action for the Global 6K for Water on May 16, 2026
02:20 — Trace introduces the podcast, notes that spring startup season is underway and warns that cooling and irrigation systems laid up poorly can produce rusty water and decayed piping, often leading clients to blame the water treater.
05:23 — “Words of Water” game show, James McDonald
06:48 — Trace highlights upcoming events, encouraging listeners to use the Scaling UP! events page to plan their professional development
09:59 — Guest Chris McDonald shares his 25‑year journey through US Pipe, distribution and finally entrepreneurship; he credits his wife’s support and explains how she joined the company without reporting directly to him
14:30 — Chris recalls that working in manufacturing and distribution taught him that value comes from solving problems rather than selling the same products as competitors, which prompted him to launch CPM Pipelines
16:16 — CPM Pipelines now focuses exclusively on pressure‑pipe inspection and rehabilitation. Chris describes how combining contracting and representation allows his team to inspect, assess and rehabilitate pipelines using high‑resolution inspection technologies and exclusive trenchless lining systems
18:44 — He argues that trenchless rehabilitation can cut costs by roughly 50 percent and reduce a six‑month dig‑and‑replace project to six weeks, noting that pressure‑pipe adoption has lagged due to access and bypass challenges but is beginning to change
21:14 — A recent force‑main inspection exemplifies their approach: high‑resolution data pinpointed a failing section, enabling targeted rehabilitation that saved a small utility nearly $10 million compared with wholesale replacement
22:40 — Chris and Trace discuss infrastructure sprawl and water billing; Chris observes that development patterns spread systems ever outward, straining budgets, yet people still balk at paying $20 for water while spending far more on cell phones
25:21 — CPM insists on inspecting pressure pipes before rehabilitation; Chris explains that many leaking pipes remain structurally sound and that sometimes replacing a short force main is cheaper than an inspection, whereas longer mains justify data‑driven decisions
32:08 — To find clients, the team monitors news for main failures, uses AI to scan meeting notes and leverages LinkedIn and ZoomInfo; Chris notes that industrial clients often have funds to act quickly while municipal agencies defer action until failures become public
34:49 — Many early pipe failures stem from random construction defects rather than gradual wear; detecting a dent hidden beneath coating may require high‑resolution tools because conventional models cannot predict these anomalies
40:49 — Chris emphasizes the importance of putting the right people in the right seats, recognizing bad fits quickly and hiring high‑level talent. CPM grows organically without borrowing money and values of alignment among employees, contractor partners and clients
Quotes
“If there’s nobody else that sees value in what I do, whether or not I see value in it is irrelevant.”
“You don’t want to invest too early. You don’t want to invest too late. And you don’t want to invest too much, right?”
“Don’t let any good conduit go unused, right?”
“You can’t do this by yourself. It takes a team.”
“Document everything.”
“Always be a student.”
Connect with Chris MacDonald
Phone: (760) 809-5391
Email: chris@cpmpipelines.com
Website: CPM Pipelines
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-macdonald-95805b13/
Guest Resources Mentioned
Scaling UP! H2O Resources Mentioned
AWT (Association of Water Technologies)
Scaling UP! H2O Academy video courses
Words of Water with James McDonald
Today’s definition is an expression for calculating the solubility of a gas in a fluid based on temperature and partial pressure. Do you know the word or phrase?
2026 Events for Water Professionals
Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we’ve listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE.
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