A central source for insights, tools, and updates on acoustic sewer inspection technology, wastewater infrastructure assessment, and cost-effective solutions for municipal inspection services and collection system optimization.
Located in the heart of Loudoun Valley, the Town of Purcellville serves a population of just under 10,000. A dedicated team of four manages both the town’s water distribution and wastewater collection systems. Like many rural utilities, Purcellville faces the challenges of limited budgets and small staff.
Population: 200,000
Miles of Collection System: 1,100
SL-RAT User Since: 2015
Population: 190,000
Miles of Collection System:1,040
SL-RAT User Since: 2013
The City of Eagan in Minnesota suspected that significant resources were deployed to clean pipes that did not need maintenance through their time-based maintenance program. In 2018, Eagan started using the SL-RAT to screen pipes prior to cleaning. By using a summer crew to inspect their yearly cleaning objectives, they could save more than $150,000 and 3,000 crew hours annually that would have been used to clean pipes with plenty of flow capacity.
The SL-RAT is compact, it’s extremely reliable, it’s robust and it does exactly what it’s supposed to do. We wanted to be more efficient and the technology is viable for what we’re trying to do. – Brent Massmann, Utilities Operations Supervisor | City of Eagan
Click to read full article online featured on trenchlesstechnology.com.
Click to view PDF of article in Trenchless Technology magazine.
Where did the idea for acoustic inspection technology come from? What makes the SL-RAT a valuable tool for collection systems maintenance? How has the technology developed with time? InfoSense’s CEO, Alex Churchill, answers these questions and many more in an interview with Municipal Sewer and Water.
Read full article online at mswmag.com
Download full article from Municipal Sewer and Water Magazine as PDF.
The City of Bend (Oregon) Utility Department oversees 474 miles of pipe for it’s 94,000 residents. The city has experienced rapid population growth, from 34,000 in 1999 to 94,000 in 2019. Despite experiencing rapid population growth and development, the city has adopted new technologies to ensure that SSOs are down and preventative maintenance tasks are on target, without increasing staff headcount. One of the technologies Bend is utilizing is the Sewer Line Rapid Assessment Tool (SL-RAT). By using acoustic inspection technology to rapidly inspect lines, they are eliminating unnecessary cleaning, redundant vehicles and high energy labor practices.
Typically, our system is in good shape in newer areas where it is predominantly PVC and doesn’t need cleaning. This assessment tool helps us focus our line-cleaning and root0cutting efforts where we need it, such as the older parts of town. It is helping us get through our system better, faster and eliminating SSOs.”
– Orrin Libolt, Collection System Supervisor, City of Bend Utility Department
Although Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority experienced enough overflow issues to warrant a lawsuit by the Sierra Club and Administrative Order on Consent just twenty years ago, they now have an award-winning program in place that has significantly reduced SSO events. One of the tools driving LRWRA’s maintenance program is the SL-RAT. “Rather than committing to clean out sewer lines whether it’s needed or not, LRWRA is using acoustic monitoring to identify pipes that need attention.” By focusing efforts on areas that need attention, the Authority has reduced dry-weather overflows while reducing wasted resources.
I think rodding pipes every day for the sake of rodding is the old way of doing things… Not only is acoustic monitoring cost-effective, but it’s environmentally responsible as well. Do we really want an additional 15 trucks out there, spewing smoke and causing congestion?”
– Greg Ramon, CEO, Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority
Oklahoma Municipal Assurance Group (OMAG) is an interlocal co-operative insurance group serving over 500 Oklahoma cities an towns. In 2018, they started an SL-RAT loan program, which allowed member utilities to loan units at no charge. Although the program was only created two years ago, OMAG’s SL-RAT loan program has already helped 83 Oklahoma utilities acoustically inspect over 2 million linear feet. The acoustic inspection results are giving clarity to users on where to prioritize efforts.
InfoSense, Inc. Press Release
Charlotte, NC, April 7, 2020
InfoSense, Inc., manufacturer of the Sewer Line Rapid Assessment Tool (SL-RAT), is now an approved vendor through the 791 Purchasing Cooperative. The 791 Purchasing Cooperative is a leading national purchasing cooperative, assisting thousands of participating public agency members with saving time and costs associated with completing purchasing processes. Approved vendors are examined by the purchasing cooperative to ensure best value cooperative contracts.
InfoSense, Inc. Press Release
Charlotte, NC, April 7, 2020
InfoSense, Inc., manufacturer of the Sewer Line Rapid Assessment Tool (SL-RAT), has been certified by the US Department of Commerce and European Union under the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield Framework. Companies self-certified through the Privacy Shield framework are committing to GDPR data transfer requirements, ensuring data protection obligations for European Union customers. The framework is administered by the International Trade Administration and U.S. Department of Commerce.
