April 2024 Vol. 79 No. 4
Features
NASSCO President reflects on active year, accomplishments
by Jeff Griffin, Senior Editor
NASSCO (National Association of Sewer Service Companies) is the industry source for trenchless technology education, resources and advocacy. The association has a storied history of accomplishment and service to the rehabilitation market.
“In 2023, NASSCO continued to focus on its mission to set standards for the assessment, maintenance and rehabilitation of underground infrastructure,” said Max Gowdy, NASSCO president during 2023 to 2024.
Through this process, NASSCO has helped ensure the continued acceptance and growth of trenchless methods and technologies.
“In 2023 we experienced increased member growth in the plumber/small contractor segment,” said Gowdy. “As a result of this segment growth, NASSCO’s Lateral and Building Pipe Committee has developed a new certification course called BSDI - Building Sewer and Drain Inspection.
“In tandem, our O&M Committee developed a Drain Cleaning Certification Program. Both will launch later this year and will be offered as self-paced online courses. The programs can be bundled to give plumbers a competitive advantage.”
Accomplishments
Gowdy summarized NASSCO’s 2023 accomplishments:
- Purchase of perpetual intellectual property of PACP codes from WRC
- Launched PACP Version 8
- Development of ITCP-CIPP Version 5 (to be launched this summer)
- Conducted industry webinars on important topics
- Webinar with industry experts on the topic of styrene and CIPP
- EPA on the topic of Build America Buy America mandates
- Various webinars – in English and Spanish – on topics of assessment, maintenance and rehabilitation (see NASSCO.org for more information) · Development of Specification Guidelines (all posted at NASSCO.org)
- Expanded in-person NASSCO Exchange one-day educational events in Boston, Detroit, Indianapolis, Albuquerque and Baltimore
- Largest-ever Washington, D.C. Fly-In; 14 NASSCO members met with 33 of their elected officials
- A special workgroup on the topic of automated defect recognition – or A.D.R. – has been busy reviewing videos to determine image quality at different camera speeds, as well as developing articles and educational materials regarding NASSCO’s position on this exciting new technology
- Hiring Dennis Pivin, CSP, to serve as NASSCO’s Health, Safety and Environmental Director. In addition to general oversight of health and safety for NASSCO members and the industry as a whole, Pivin provides safety audits, training and other services to NASSCO members
- Development of technical videos on the topic of various trenchless technologies
- Serving as subject matter experts to IAPMO in the development of inspection course on CIPP installations in building sewer and drain
Looking ahead
Gowdy said important issues to be addressed in 2024 include continued investigation into the safety of styrene used in the CIPP process, and NASSCO will embark upon Phase 4 (in partnership with BAMI-I). The Phase 4 study focuses on establishing the styrene discharge concentration in cured water that may create bio-inhibition at publicly owned treatment plants.
“We will continue the investigation into and support of ADR technology in the identification of sewer pipe conditions,” Gowdy said, “and there will be continued growth of NASSCO educational programs and delivery of self-paced online courses.
In addition, “We will make translation of NASSCO courses, resources and other tools into Spanish, French and Portuguese to meet demand in North, South and Central America.”
Gowdy is an area manager for Dukes. His term of NASSCO president of ends in April, at the association’s annual meeting, and Jeremy Wagner, president/CEO of Pipelogix, Inc. will assume the president role.
NASSCO offices are in Frederick, Md. Sheila Joy is executive director. Details about NASSCO programs and services are on its website, or by calling (301) 624-2400.
Current NASSCO Membership Stats
Contractor Organizations - 35 percent
Public Agencies - 19 percent
Consulting Engineer - 19 percent
Suppliers/Manufacturers - 20 percent
Associate Members - 7 percent
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