WEFTEC Paper: RATs in the House – Little Rock
RATs in the House – How Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority Moved from a Time-Based to a Condition-Based Sewer Cleaning Strategy
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.