March 2016, Vol. 71, No. 3

By Stephen Barlas, Washington Editor Many heavy equipment operations involved in utility system construction will be affected by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) new final rule upgrading requirements for protecting employees from breathable crystalline silica, a byproduct ..

At today’s White House Water Summit in Washington, D.C., the American Water Works Association announced a challenge to its member water utilities and others across the globe to complete 1,000 water audits over the next two years using AWWA’s newest Water Audit Software. Water audits allow utilities..

CLARKSBURG, Calif. (AP) — Atop a dirt levee his great-grandfather built in the 1800s to hold back California’s mightiest river, Northern California farmer Russell van Loben Sels looks out over the site of a new water project, one that would be the state’s most ambitious in a half-century. Promoted ..

WASHINGTON (AP) — Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder is responsible for lead contamination in Flint, Michigan’s water supply and would likely face criminal charges if he were running a business, a Democratic lawmaker said Thursday. “There is no doubt in my mind that if a corporate CEO did what Governor Snyd..

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The last state permit needed for a pipeline that will carry a half-million barrels of crude oil daily from North Dakota to Illinois was approved Thursday by Iowa utilities regulators, who also gave the Texas-based company authority to use eminent domain for land that property..

The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality made crucial errors as the city of Flint began using a new drinking water source that would become contaminated with lead, but the rules the agency failed to heed may not be strong enough to protect the public, auditors said Friday. A report by the s..

An underground pipeline or utility line is damaged by a digging project once every six minutes in the United States. Take a moment during the month of April – National Safe Digging Month – to remember always to call 811 when you plan a digging project – whether it is a large commercial or industrial..

Itron, Inc. a world-leading technology and services company dedicated to the resourceful use of energy and water, announced today the release of the third annual Itron Resourcefulness Index report, a global survey and index benchmarking energy and water resources management. In its largest study to..

Minnesota Limited President, Christopher Leines, has announced his plan to retire, effective March 31, 2016, and will be succeeded by Ted Crowe. Crowe began his career at Leonard Pipeline Contractors in 1977 where he spent 17 years as project manager, project administrator, chief accountant, and vi..

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — It’s a bar that serves nothing but tap water. For free. The concept, developed by two Minneapolis artists, started as pop-ups across the country, ranging from an event at a North Carolina artists’ space to a waterfront fundraiser in Chicago to a four-month run at an art museum in..

Global Water Technologies is participating in a national call to action on sustainable water strategies being launched this week at the first White House Water Summit on Tuesday, March 22. Water leaders from across the United States will head to the nation’s capital for the groundbreaking summit an..

Henkels & McCoy, Inc., (H&M Inc.) announced the appointment of James M. Dillahunty to President and Chief Operating Officer, effective February 1, 2016. As President and COO, Dillahunty will be responsible for H&M Inc.’s three operating regions (East, Central, and West) as well as the Pipeline and ..

Washington, DC, March 15, 2016 – A diverse group of U.S. water sector organizations will join forces next month in Washington, DC for Water Week 2016. Scheduled for April 10-16, this annual event provides an opportunity for water professionals to advocate for national policies that advance clean and..

In an action approved by the California State Water Resources Control Board earlier this year, the California-Nevada Section of the American Water Works Association (CA-NV AWWA) will receive $3.2 million over the next two years to assist California’s water agencies in producing validated system wate..

PUNE, India, March 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — According to the report “Pipe Coatings Market by Type (Thermoplastic, Metal, Fusion Bonded Epoxy, Concrete Weight, and Others), by End-Use Industry (Oil & Gas, Industrial, Chemical Processing, Municipal Water Supply, and Others), by Region – Global Forecas..

Pennsylvania American Water, the largest water utility in its namesake’s state, has deployed a high-speed notification system – CodeRED – in an effort to rapidly alert customers of water emergencies. The system allows residents to set their personal preferences for contact methods and then facilitat..

John Deere Construction & Forestry has introduced an interactive game for customers and fans. The “Small Machine vs. Big Jobs Challenge” is an innovative take on consumer involvement, allowing customers to familiarize themselves with machinery in a fresh way. John Deere’s new G-Series Skid Steers a..

SOUTHFIELD, Mich. — A local entrepreneurial group has discovered a practical solution to address the lead contamination that has raised alarm in the city of Flint and across the United States — and it all started with reinforced hose. As widely reported in the media, lead leaching from pipes in Fli..

(DENVER) — A new analysis published today by the American Water Works Association estimates 6.1 million lead service lines remain in U.S. communities, suggesting progress in lead service line removal over the past two decades but indicating an estimated $30 billion challenge remains. When the Lead ..

(DENVER) — The Board of the American Water Works Association voted unanimously Monday to support recommendations from the National Drinking Water Advisory Council (NDWAC) that strengthen the Lead and Copper Rule and ultimately lead to the complete removal of lead service lines. “The water community..

DALLAS, Texas – Thompson Pipe Group—Flowtite® has announced the return of Dee Bryant to the position of Regional Sales Manager, effective immediately. Dee has an impressive track record of leadership and dedication to the task of eradicating pipe corrosion by further spreading the adoption and speci..

DC Water and the Water Environment Federation (WEF) signed an agreement to collaborate in the development of a National Green Infrastructure Certification Program aimed at promoting skilled individuals who will install, inspect and maintain green infrastructure (GI) systems. In addition, the program..

MOLINE, IL – The commemoration of the American Rental Association’s (ARA) 60th anniversary and the continued optimism for growth in the equipment rental industry combined to create a successful 60th edition of The Rental Show® in Atlanta from Feb. 21-24 at the Georgia World Congress Center. From it..

Coming off a strong year for construction, the Distribution Contractors Association attracted a near record attendance of 460 people to it’s annual convention in Naples, Florida. The five day meeting was filled with social events, networking opportunities, committee meetings (including the HDD, Gov..

Caterpillar, in collaboration with PipeLine Machinery International, Inc. (PLM) and an assembly of industry-leading companies, announces the Pipeline Safety Leadership Program, a first-of-its-kind training course specifically targeting pipeliners. The program aims to support the industry as it shift..

PERRY, Okla., March 7, 2016 –Ditch Witch®, a Charles Machine Works Company, was recognized by the True Value Company as their 2015 Lawn and Garden Vendor of the Year at the American Rental Association’s The Rental Show in Atlanta. Awarded annually, the Lawn and Garden Vendor of the Year demonstrates..

FLOWTITE, a fiberglass reinforced pipe (FRP) manufactured by Thompson Pipe Group, proved its durability in chemically harsh conditions by passing the City of Los Angeles’ pickle jar test. The pickle jar test examines the physical properties of materials used in sewers through the long-term exposure..

The Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA) board of directors voted to reaffirm the organization’s commitment to underground natural gas storage integrity and accelerate implementation of industry storage standards in February. In addition, the board voted to support the Pipeline and..

By John Seewer, Associated Press, Toledo, Ohio  Ohio’s environmental regulators are proposing an overhaul of how the state and its cities deal with lead in drinking water, including speeding up notifications when lead is found at the tap. The plan, obtained by The Associated Press, would give city..

FLINT, Mich. (AP ) — An official with Flint’s water plant said Tuesday he had planned to treat the drinking water with anti-corrosive chemicals after the city began drawing from the Flint River but was overruled by a state environmental regulator. Mike Glasgow, then a supervisor at the plant and no..

by Elizabeth Fitzpatrick Art Director It’s Throwback Thursday, that time of week when you realize you’re suddenly much older than you used to be. Today we take a trip back to March 2001 and our First Look column: Subsite 950 Locator Features Technology Advances. (Click here for larger view of pag..

Hobas CCFRPM pipe is ideal for sliplining because of its high strength-to-weight ratio and smooth surface. Superior hydraulic characteristics provide maximum flow recovery. Most U.S. cities have used Hobas pipe in new construction and rehab for critical installations including storm and sanitary sew..

The Vermeer R9x12T Reclaimer utilizes a series of shakers, cones and screens to filter out solids from drilling fluids, and it can hold up to 8,560 gallons (32,403.1 L). Powered by a 3 phase 250 kW (313 kVA) generator, the R9x12T has four shakers that can clean 600 gpm (2271 L/min). Depending on the..

SaniTite HP Sanitary pipe has been specifically/engineered for the gravity flow sanitary sewer market. The bell and spigot joining system provides an added factor of safety for design/engineers by including polymer reinforced bells and double gasket spigots on every stick of pipe. Advanced polypropy..

The MCT 450 “Mud Man” Drill Fluid Mixing and Cleaning System from Mud Technology has cutting edge technology. The 2400 gallon, two-section tank includes 450 plus gpm of cleaning capacity. It features high “G” force “AWD” linear shaker, five-inch cone desilter bank, high shear/low pressure mixing hop..

As a stand-alone drilling fluid BORZAN D is a highly concentrated xanthan gum allowing for lower addition rates than most bio-polymers. BORZAN D fluids are particularly effective in vapor extraction and other environmental wells where it can be flushed out of the bore with minimum residual wall-cake..

American Augers BULLDOG reamer is a 3-fluted cone shaped semi-compactor that is excellent for compactable soils and survives in intermittent rock. Benefits include: lots of replaceable jets for pressure tuning and easy repair of “washed out” jets; perimeter flow creates a complete slurry rather than..

Elgin Separation Solutions Tango 600HD2 features the new Hyper-G™ six-panel linear motion shaker with increased G-force output & single-point leveling jack, Firestone™ single-piece vibration isolation system, independent centrifugal pump pockets for direct maintenance access and eight 4” desilter hy..

Trenchless Technology Rehabilitation at its best. The Snap-Tite Culvert Lining System is unmatched in ease of installation. Its no-dig approach to rehabilitate a failing culvert by using the trenchless technology approach results in minimal training and no specialized equipment to complete the proj..

With a solid body foundation, the Straightline HDD Crusher reamer can be configured with either short-bodied radius top carbide buttons for hard rock up to 25,000 PSI or chisel-top carbide buttons for softer formations. The carbide buttons are precisely located on independent cutting paths to insure..

The Raven 405epoxy coating has pioneered the way for corrosion, I&I protection, erosion and rehabilitation in the wastewater industry and has long been recognized as the industry standard.  It is a solvent-free 100% solids, ultra-high build epoxy coating formulated with exceptionally high physical s..

The VersaReam is a patent pending design for an expandable/interchangeable blade PDC reamer by Bit Brokers International. The VersaReam is changing the drilling industry as we know it. It provides more Versatility to the drilling industry by allowing drillers to change the size of their reamer by si..

CASE 521F wheel loader meets Tier 4 Final emissions standards through the use of Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology. The newest machine from CASE delivers 131 net horsepower with an FPT Tier 4 Final-certified engine, providing quick throttle response and powerful torque. The 22,948-pound..

 Ditch Witch® has introduced a new line of air excavators: the FXT30 Air FXT50 Air, and FXT65 Air. The versatile and high-powered FXT Air system has air and water excavation capabilities, making it ideal for locating utilities or gas leaks in below-grade worksites. “This new line lessen..

Ring-O-Matic HiCFM 850VX offers the greatest suction capability of their skid, truck, and trailer mounted designs. Applications for the HiCFM 850VX include key-holing or potholing buried utilities; cleaning out storm drains; catch basins; drilling fluids; valve boxes; slot trenching; or, assisting ..

New John Deere SmartGrade crawler dozer is built to improve jobsite accuracy and quality of work with its integration of the Topcon 3D-MC2 Grade Control System, which is fully integrated into the machine’s cabin, structure and software to deliver precise grading performance while eliminating vulnera..

HammerHead Trenchless Equipment’s wide assortment of ready-made ramming tool extraction cradles are now able to be locked inside. The extraction cradles enable horizontal direction drilling (HDD) contractors to position ramming tools 180-degrees to extract jammed pipe or tooling, assist in product p..

The newest addition to the Kubota compact track loader lineup is the SVL95-2s, which offers more power, improved multi-tasking capabilities and increased hydraulic horsepower that ups the ante in the compact track-loader segment. Powered by a Tier 4 Final turbocharged diesel engine, and equipped wit..

Volvo Construction Equipment (CE) announces two new H-series compact wheel loaders, the L45H AND L50H, built for superior fuel efficiency and enhanced hydraulic flow for faster cycle times at reduced operating costs. The H-series wheel loaders from Volvo CE are equipped with Volvo’s unique Torque P..

Perry, Okla. – Subsite Electronics, a Charles Machine Works Company, has introduced the 2550GR Ground Penetrating Radar System featuring a new, user-friendly Window’s-based interface that will provide operators with a number of productivity enhancing benefits. “The 2550GR offers all the same great ..

By Jeff Griffin, Senior Editor Infinity Tool Mfg. has introduced a new line of reaming tools for clearing debris and rock from drainage culverts. Forward Articulating Reaming Tools can be attached with special connectors to several types of earth engaging equipment and extended into culverts to r..

John Deere introduces four Final Tier 4 G-Series skid steers – 312 GR (51-hp), 314GR (51-hp), 316GR (65-hp) and 318GR (65-hp) – along with one compact track loader, the 317G (65-hp). The newest machines from the company were designed to level the playing field for the current rental, agricultural ma..

The 2017 Underground Construction Technology International Conference & Exhibition (UCT) is now accepting proposals for presentations for its Educational Program. Submission Deadline: May 2, 2016 The UCT program is an interactive forum to share perspectives, present ideas and explore issues for th..

Recycling and reusing drilling fluids is becoming increasingly common on jobs with mid-size horizontal directional drill (HDD) projects where previously that practice was uncommon. Recycling isn’t for every job – it would not be practical on jobs with small machines making short bores – but contrac..

No one disputes the importance of proper directional drilling rig maintenance, yet too often it is neglected. The consequences ultimately show up on the bottom line and whether a project is profitable or one that goes in the red. Properly maintaining HDD equipment simple is good business. Multiple ..

Make Way For Progress On Feb. 7, the city of Santa Clara celebrated a major milestone when it hosted Super Bowl 50 at the state-of the-art Levi’s stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers. Next year, the city will celebrate another milestone with the completion of the 10-mile Berryessa Extension, th..

By Jeff Griffin, Senior Editor Five exhibiting companies were honored with ShowStopper Awards at the 2016 Underground Construction Technology International Conference & Exhibition (UCT) held Feb. 3 – 4 in Atlanta. The winners were: HammerHead Trenchless Equipment; Radius HDD Tools; Raven Linin..

Underground piping infrastructure construction and rehabilitation professionals journeyed to Atlanta last month for the annual Underground Construction Technology International Conference & Exhibition (UCT). Several things set this UCT apart from past shows. Although UCT has been in Atlanta twice, ..

NASSCO Standard Bearers: John Nelson EDITOR’S NOTE: NASSCO just completed its 40th anniversary and continues to set standards for the assessment and rehabilitation of underground infrastructure. As the association continues its phenomenal growth, this series profiles those who have made significant..

The National Association of Sewer Service Companies (NASSCO) celebrated its 40th anniversary in style by holding their annual convention at the Sheraton Resort in Maui, HI. A record crowd of more than 200 attended the convention, enjoying warm weather, blue skies, sandy beaches and clear ocean water..

The 2016 RehabZone has evolved and changed to include new technologies and processes, it remains true to its founding principles – to focus firmly on the pipeline rehabilitation industry with a unique, “no-sell, education only” format that remains a primary reason for its continuing success. Like p..

S&N Communications, a company specializing in locating, utilities and infrastructure construction, was awarded a new large project locating contract with AGL Resources, the parent company of Virginia Natural Gas; the project comprises underground utility locating in Georgia with work that was set to..

As reported by the Clean Water Council (CWC), in mid-February, U.S. Senators Robert Menendez and Cory Booker, together with Congressman Bill Pascrell, outlined federal legislation designed to prevent another water crisis, such as the ongoing issues in Flint, MI. The Sustainable Water Infrastructure..

Subsite Electronics, a Charles Machine Works Company, recognized Ditch Witch Midwest with the Top Volume Electronics Dealer Award and the Top TK Conversion Salesman Award at the 2016 Ditch Witch Dealer Conferences. Tim Conover, Ditch Witch Midwest sales manager, accepted the awards on behalf of Ditc..

Terramac, a manufacturer of rubber tracked crawler carriers, has expanded its presence in the North American market by including Enviro Services as part of its dealer network; Enviro Services will represent Terramac’s product line in of versatile crawler carriers northern Louisiana. Enviro Services..

Vermeer Board of Directors announced the appointment of two veteran corporate executives within the industrial equipment manufacturing industry – Robert Hund and Scott Nelson – earlier this year. Vermeer President and CEO, Jason Andringa, said the company will benefit from the vast business and man..

Felling Trailers, a family owned and operated full-line trailer manufacturer based in Minnesota, has grown from a small shop to a factory and office complex since its humble beginnings in 1974. Perhaps the sense of community and family-oriented style of business has played a role in the company’s su..

It is not unprecedented that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) investigates potential overcharging at pipelines, as it announced it was doing in late January. But it doesn’t happen very frequently, just three other times since 2009. The agency announced on Jan. 21, that it will initia..

by Robert Carpenter, Editor-In-Chief In 1976, a fledgling association was born to serve the rehabilitation sewer market. From those humble days, through many ups and downs, the National Association of Sewer Service Companies (NASSCO) has grown into the leading trenchless rehabilitation organization..