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Optimizing Root Control with Acoustic Inspections- Western Virginia Water Authority

InfoSense Team on March 24, 2020

Western Virginia Water Authority is a mid-sized utility in Southwest Virginia that provides water and sewer service to ~250,000 people. In 2016, they started looking for ways to optimize the process for identifying pipes for chemical root control. To effectively manage an abundance of CCTV work orders, Western Virginia Water Authority utilized acoustic technology to screen their system for potential blockages. Over 4,500 acoustic inspections were conducted, resulting in identifying 557 with Blocked or POOR/low FAIR blockage assessments – scores of 0 to 4. Resources could be allocated to the 12% of pipes with identified need.

“The use of the SL-RAT greatly reduced the amount of time that needed to be spent televising and allowed for quick screening of the system.”

To read the full American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Paper, click here.

MSW Spotlight: SL-DOG Helps Manage Data

InfoSense Team on February 20, 2020

The Sewer Line Data OrGanizer, or SL-DOG is a software specifically designed by InfoSense to help utilities manage their acoustic inspection data collected with the SL-RAT. The MSW Product Spotlight describes how the SL-DOG can facilitate data collection, management and visualization, ultimately helping to organize and understand the vast amount of data gathered while using the SL-RAT. Click button to read full product spotlight.

Read Municipal Sewer & Water Article Online

OMAG’s Users Give Feedback on SL-RAT

InfoSense Team on July 19, 2019

Since fall of 2018, OMAG (Oklahoma Municipal Assurance Group) has provided three SL-RATs for member utilities to update and develop their sanitary sewer maintenance programs. Jay Neal from the City of Durant and Matt Duke from City of Muldrow give feedback on their SL-RAT integration process.

When asked, “Did the SL-RAT meet your expectations as to its usefuleness?”:

It exceeded our expectations. As with all newer technologies, it’s easy to be reluctant to accept its usefulness. However, the SL-RAT proved up to the challenge. Once we figured out its limitations and the best time of day to put it to use, it gave us an accurate picture of our sewer infrastructure and provided the data necessary to analyze it.

– Jay Neal, City of Durant

To read full article, click here.

City of Augusta uses GIS and CityWorks to manage SL-RAT data (video)

InfoSense Team on June 21, 2019

When the City of Augusta started utilizing the SL-RAT to screen their collection system, they discovered that the SL-RAT generated a lot of valuable data at a rapid pace. They wanted to find a way to manage this process and have this information drive decision-making in the field. Augusta utilized their GIS system and CityWorks to automate this process.

We have quality, valuable information tied to our GIS system, so that you can evaluate things much more easier geographically.

Jerry Philpot, Technical Support Systems Manager | Augusta, GA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3y8ParoljPA&feature=youtu.be

WEFTEC Paper: RATs in the House – Little Rock

InfoSense Team on October 8, 2018

Abstract: Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority, Arkansas (LRWRA) manages ~1929 km (1100 mi) of small diameter (up to 30 cm or 12 in) gravity sanitary sewer mains. In January 2017, they implemented an acoustic inspection technology as a preliminary assessment tool to help prioritize cleaning operations. They successfully transitioned from a time-based to condition-based sewer maintenance program, improving their annual maintenance contact with the small diameter gravity system from 40% to 90%. In just their first year, LRWRA inspected 1555 km (966 mi), or ~70% of their collection system, reducing non-capacity sanitary sewer overflows by 35%, without hiring additional personnel.

Table showing Sanitary Sewer Overflow Count Before and After Implementing Acoustic Technology

Click to download full paper by Tim Harrison and Alex Churchill

Grand Prairie (Texas) Takes a Systematic Approach to I&I and SSOs

InfoSense Team on July 10, 2018

The City of Grand Prairie Water Utilities Operations is responsible for maintaining 700 mile of wastewater collection system. In 2006, they were experiencing a yearly average of 65 SSOs. Through implementing assessment tools that comprehensively assess their system, the city has been able to drastically reduce overflows to eight events per year for 2015-2017. One tool that has been essential to establishing this condition-based maintenance approach is the SL-RAT, which is helping the city to quickly understand which lines need maintenance, while drastically reducing inspection costs.

Person sitting at table reading sewer blockage inspection data.

We’re doing that to get a snapshot of the condition of the lines. It helps us detect overflow points that we’ve had problems with in the past, but additionally, we use them for lines that we are washing on a periodic basis, and it has lessedned the number of times we have to go out to those lines.

– Jim Siddall, Water Operations Manager, City of Grand Prairie Water Utilities Operations

Read full I&I article.

New Castle County utilizes SL-RAT technology to proactively clean before sanitary sewer overflows occur

InfoSense Team on April 12, 2018

New Castle County (DE) was featured in the Delaware Public Media for reducing sanitary sewer overflows by 67% since 2005. Officials attribute their success to utilizing acoustic inspection to identify problematic areas and cleaning them before overflows happen.

“The cost of doing proactive cleaning is much less than the cost of cleaning up an overflow.”

– Rob Roff, Operations Service Manager.

SL-RAT featured as one of the “Best Money-Makers of 2017”

InfoSense Team on January 8, 2018

Cleaner Magazine included the Sewer Line Rapid Assessment Tool (SL-RAT) on their list of “The Best Money-Makers of 2017” – citing this acoustic inspection technology as one of the top tools that contractors relied on to keep their companies profitable.

“The SL-RAT provides a rapid assessment of pipe flow. Think of it as a pre-screening tool you can use before doing a conventional sewer cleaning and CCTV inspection. It can help prioritize the need to do expensive camera inspections.”

Read more here.

Town of Uxbridge Implements SL-RAT to Focus Maintenance Program

InfoSense Team on January 8, 2018

Municipal Sewer & Water Magazine’s article highlights how the town of Uxbridge, MA is efficiently managing their 40-mile wastewater collections system with only a crew of six, by incorporating the Sewer Line Rapid Assessment Tool (SL-RAT). Since initiating the SL-RAT acoustic inspection program in the summer of 2015, the Uxbridge Department of Public Works has screened over 25% of it’s collections systems, proficiently focusing cleaning and CCTV resources to the 5-10% of pipes that have significant problems. No sanitary sewer overflows have occurred since the acoustic inspection program was implemented.

“The [SL-RAT] is used as a first-line blockage screening tool to help the town avoid wasting effort cleaning clean pipe. “It is amazing how quickly it gives you good information at very low cost,” Legg says. Uxbridge crews the equipment with two people who frequently inspect 10,000 or more feet per day.”

Read more here.