Magazine
Exploring the future of the manhole camera industry: Unlocking hidden insights
(UI) — The manhole camera industry has undergone significant advancements in recent years, revolutionizing the way we inspect and maintain underground infrastructure.
NASSCO tech tips: PACPTM condition grading system
Each of NASSCO’S Pipeline Assessment Certification Program (PACP) inspection reports offer eight or nine different condition grades. How each of these condition ratings are calculated is outlined within the PACP Manual Appendix C, but what do they mean and how can they be interpreted?
Caverns of Calloway – Dirt pipes are expensive
(UI) — After a heavy rainfall in June 2022, the Trinity River Authority (TRA) was notified of a sanitary sewer overflow (SSO) on a sewer line within the Walker Calloway System, a 4.7-mile wastewater collection system built, owned and operated by TRA.
HDDA Mud School provides vital information to drillers
The Horizontal Directional Drilling Association recently held a complimentary, hands-on Mud School to share vital information for new drillers and provide a refresher course for veteran operators. More than 60 people attended the May 18 event held at the Doubletree Hotel near Love Field in Dallas, Texas.
Utility and communications construction update
As the construction season jumped into full swing, the impacts of labor, equipment and government regulation on the contractor are highly impactful. After another month in June of construction employment gains (25,000 new jobs) in the U.S. economy, the challenge of finding labor to complete the potential work remains high.
New leak detection rules for pipelines proposed
(UI) — The federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has proposed major changes to its leak detection based not on concerns about safety but, rather, in order to reduce methane emissions related to their contribution to climate change.
Pressure pipe rehabilitation – what’s on the menu?
(UI) — Trenchless methods have been widely used for the rehabilitation of gravity pipelines for some time. The advent of these technologies and methods has lowered the cost of extending the useful life of gravity pipelines as opposed to outright replacing them.
Achieving more accurate utility infrastructure mapping with the help of an app
(UI) — More than 217,000 utility damage events were reported in 2021, according to the latest Common Ground Alliance DIRT (Damage Information Reporting Tool) Report. The three leading causes of these reported utility strikes were: digging without calling 811, failure to pothole and/or maintain clearance, and locating issues due to incorrect and/or outdated maps.
Rehab comes of age
From largely technological dreams to proven reality, the diversity of rehabilitation applications has spread like wildfire over the past 50 years.
Breakthrough time of styrene emissions through various CIPP coating materials
(UI) — Recent studies of cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) liners have shown that potentially dangerous concentrations of styrene can be emitted prior to liner installation in the cold storage unit or vehicle.
Rehab Technology: Emergency repair of unexpected leak
(UI) — Created in 1951, by the Texas Legislature, North Texas Municipal Water District (NTMWD) consists of 10 original member cities, including Farmersville, Forney, Garland, McKinney, Mesquite, Plano, Princeton, Rockwall, Royse City and Wylie. By 1956, this new agency was providing water to the region.
Business News
Ring-O-Matic has expanded dealer coverage in several major markets, improving product availability and machine application expertise.
NASSCO Standard Bearers: Kathy Romans
This month, Underground Infrastructure profiles Kathy Romans, who not only has been a tremendous force within the rehabilitation industry, but an effective leader for NASSCO. In additional to her committee work and service on the board of directors, Kathy was the first woman president of NASSCO.
How digitally mapping, documenting HDD jobs can aid compliance, profitability
Collecting bore and equipment data may seem like added work. If you install fiber, you may worry that it will eat into tight profit margins that are common in the industry. But the truth is, you likely already have much of what you need to record the data.
DCA/AGA workshop provides forum on wide range of topics
In late March, the Distribution Contractors Association (DCA) and the American Gas Association (AGA) held the 8th Annual DCA/AGA Workshop in Chicago, Ill. The event brought together some 150 gas distribution operators, contractors, manufacturers and other service providers to discuss and evaluate ways to communicate and collaborate effectively.
Newsline: Arkansas Valley clean water pipeline project starts construction after 60-year wait
Newsline: Arkansas Valley clean water pipeline project starts construction after 60-year wait; a DOJ probe finds Alabama ignored sewer issues in impoverished communities; Pittsburgh water rates could increase nearly 60% over next 3 years; and more.
Despite challenges, HDD market continues impressive growth
(UI) — The 25th Annual Underground Infrastructure HDD Survey provides insight into the complex, yet generally lucrative, world of directional boring. Indeed, HDD is a technology that continues to expand to even further heights. It has clearly demonstrated how the introduction and development of this disruptive technology forever changed the face of utility and pipeline construction.
GPR: From glaciers to conduits, digs deeper so you don’t have to
(UI) — The ability to accurately map underground or encased infrastructure allows construction and excavation professionals to plan groundbreaking and other destructive activities more efficiently. By knowing where not to dig, cut or core, these professionals eliminate the risks associated with striking buried utilities or severing structural components, such as rebar or post-tension cables.
B&B Underground and Drilling tackles reclaimed water project
(UI) — While many HDD companies perform strictly small-diameter fiber work, those focused on larger water and sewer utility work are specialty companies. Building a team for the task can be more challenging, too. That’s why B&B Underground and Drilling emphasizes the importance of training.
Editor’s Log: A fiber road paved by HDD
(UI) — By the late ‘90s, fiber backbone construction was marching across the land like Sherman to Atlanta. It was the early version of cryptocurrency – every investor was going to become a multi-millionaire overnight. The market for directional drills hit unprecedented – and unrealistic – highs. HDD was the perfect technology to aid the expansion of fiber installation, along with trenching and plowing. It was the telecom version of the early 1980s oil boom.
Rehab News
(UI) — The regional manager changes at Avanti and Aegion acquires trenchless water rehabilitation provider Infraspec Services.
Pneumatic piercing tool helps innovative utility solutions grow
Fiber installation business creates strong demand for stitch boring in residential areas
Trenchless methods: Trenchers remain valuable for utility construction
(UI) — In the 1970s, new residential developments were being built with all utilities underground. Of course, water, sewer, and gas lines always had been buried, but now telephone and electric dissertation wires were, too, as would cable television services that would come later.
Challenges become firsts in Chelsea River Crossing project
(UI) — What attracts many contractors to underground construction are the challenges they face. Contractors have the leading role in deciding on the course of events that they, alone, can control. As a result of overcoming challenges, technological firsts can be established.
Ice pigging offers low-risk, high-performance option for water system cleaning
(UI) — Park City, Utah, site of the 2002 Winter Olympics, is a 7,000-foot-high scenic wonder known for its sweeping mountain vistas, luxury homes and ski resorts, but its origins are literally more down to earth.
Newsline: US Judge temporarily blocks Biden’s Clean Water Rule in 24 states
Finalized in December, the Clean Water Act rule covering the waters of the United States, known as WOTUS, governs small streams, wetlands and other waterways nationwide. It repeals a Trump administration rule that was thrown out by federal courts.
Rehab technology: Canada’s King Road culvert rehab provides structural spray-on solution
(UI) — Beneath four lanes of traffic on King Road in York, Ontario, Canada, a deteriorated ellipse culvert needed rehabilitation. Now, the original structure will continue to deteriorate but is no longer cause for concern.
Editor's log: Ever gotten sick from smelling wet paint?
(UI) — Sewer rehabilitation is critical to the American infrastructure. Leading the way has been long-established cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) technology that essentially paved the road for a variety of modern rehab methods. But in recent years, the process, which has historically used styrene as the curing agent in liners, has come under direct assault for alleged health risks.
Orlando’s Richard Howard brought global view, acclaim to innovative public works program
During Richard Howard's tenure, Orlando’s Public Works department was increasingly known for its innovative, sometimes experimental and largely successful approaches to wastewater and stormwater management.
Utility and communications: Construction Update
Coming out of conference season, sentiment remains high, and supply of labor is the one constraint that is keeping the industry in check. We continue to see consistent investment in existing infrastructure and a healthy pipeline of bid opportunities for new construction.
- OSHA cites Florida contractors for trench safety violations at sewer and excavation sites
- Cadiz to reuse steel from terminated Keystone XL pipeline for California groundwater project
- Lynchburg, Va., breaks ground on largest-ever Blackwater CSO tunnel project
- Biden-Harris administration invests $849 million in aging water infrastructure, drought resilience
- The EPA announces $6.2 billion in funding for Iowa and Kansas water infrastructure