Magazine

Editor’s Log: Launch of the Big Event

(UC) — There’s a good chance by now that most of our readers have seen announcements for the evolution of the next big event for underground industry awards – a very special occasion that will reward accomplishments and people of the underground infrastructure industry in a unique, personal and deserving fashion.

New Products

Latest industry developments

Spotlight: Manhole and Pipe Coatings

Spotlight: Manhole and Pipe Coatings

Moving PACP Data Between Systems

After many successful Pipeline Assessment Certification Program (PACP) inspection projects end, there is a large amount of collected data that some PACP-certified professionals, engineers and utility workers do not understand.

Spotlight—Linings

Applied Felts  (276) 656-1904; appliedfelts.com  Using only the highest quality raw materials available, Applied Felts’ decades proven, PU-coated, all-felt AquaCure® liners, with stitched or flame-bonded seams, are built to ..

Pressure Pipe Cleaning and Preparation for Rehabilitation

Pressure pipes, like gravity pipelines, need to be cleaned and prepared for rehabilitation. This NASSCO Tech Tip will discuss pressure pipe cleaning methods and requirements before a pipe rehabilitation is completed.

Annual UCT ShowStopper Awards Feature Innovative Exhibits

Exhibitors at trade shows compete with hundreds of other exhibitors to capture attendees’ interest in their booths and the specific products and services being promoted.

RehabZone

As always, the 2022 edition of RehabZone was a vital part of 2022 Underground Construction Technology International Conference & Exhibition (UCT) held this past January in in Ft. Worth, Texas,

UCT 2022 Hosts Flood of Re-Engaging Attendees

After battling through more than two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, the underground infrastructure industry took another significant step towards normality in January as a strong crowd of interested attendees packed educational sessions and the exhibit hall at the annual Underground Construction Technology International Conference & Exhibition.

Industry study takes hard look at 811 process, facility locating

At a time when excavation construction is at an all-time high, and much more is on the horizon after landmark infrastructure legislation enacted in 2021, protecting underground infrastructure during excavation activity is more important than ever.

Modern mud systems bring large benefits to big HDD jobs

In today’s environment of strict environmental regulations, rising costs and intense competition for horizontal directional drilling (HDD) jobs, mud reclaimer systems have become an indispensable companion to large-diameter HDD rigs.

Utility & communications construction update

The pandemic exposed the frailty that exists in current supply chains and the war in Ukraine has placed those concerns into overdrive.

New FERC pipeline policies worrisome

By Stephen Barlas, Washington, D.C. Editor Potential impact of Europe’s new need for U.S. liquid natural gas (LNG) is now reverberating inside and outside the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), as it attempts to implement two new policy statements..

Newsline

U.S. Interior Earmarks $1.7 Billion Tribal Water Settlements  U.S. Department of Interior announced that it will use $1.7 billion from the recently enacted federal infrastructure bill to fund 16 tribal water rights settlements. The funds are to pay for infrastructure that provides access to water t..

Good math, bad math

By Robert Carpenter, Editor-in-chief First the good math  The over two-year COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc through the lives of virtually everyone in the world. That also held true for the business world and certainly the underground infrastructure indust..

Rehab Technology: 5 Questions to Help Municipalities Choose the Right Utility Inspection Equipment

By Patrick Iyonsi, utility inspection product manager, Subsite Out of sight, out of mind. This is the general population’s stance towards the 2 million miles of underground pipe in the United States and even more around the world.  And rightfully so. As a service provided and supported by municipa..

Convention Preview: NASSCO Thrives in Virtual World; ‘Live’ Annual Convention in Scottsdale

By Jeff Griffin, Senior Editor In spite of the COVID-19 epidemic, NASSCO (National Association of Sewer Service Companies) stayed true to its mission of setting standards for the assessment, maintenance and rehabilitation of underground infrastructure, and assuring the continued acceptance and grow..

HDD: Mud Systems

American Augers  americanaugers.com, (800) 324-4930  The new M300DH fluid cleaning system helps contractors working in tight job sites stay agile and efficient.  Its high-cleaning power circulates drilling fluids with 100,000-to-240,000 pounds of pullback and a 480-volt generator enables agitatio..

Directional Drilling: Muddy Waters: 3 Ways Fluid Cleaning Systems Can Improve Job-Site Success

By Richard Levings, American Augers Project Manager & Ben Clark, Derrick Corp. Civil Global Manager As demand for underground construction projects continues to increase, getting the most from your equipment is vital to job-site success. For HDD operators, drilling fluid plays a crucial role in eff..

Convention Preview: APCA Plans Scottsdale Convention to Tackle Important Business

Working in a rapidly evolving industry and facing serious challenges from a variety of sources, American Pipeline Contractors Association members are traveling to sunny Scottsdale, Ariz., March 25–30, for the 2022 APCA Convention. The meeting features an outstanding slate of speakers, important educ..

First Look: Tesmec Offers All-Inclusive Truck Approach to Conventional Fiber Microtrenching

By Jeff Griffin, Senior Editor A variety of construction methods can be used to install fiber optic cable to expand broadband networks.  While horizontal direction drilling (HDD) receives most of the trade press coverage abo..

New Products

WrapidSeal Controls Infiltration, Prevents Deterioration, Provides Structural Integrity of Manholes  Manholes deteriorate, as a result of soil stresses, groundwater, exposure to sewer gas, structural movement from traffic loading, and soil movement from wet/dry or freeze/thaw cycling. Over time, th..

Business People

Freese and Nichols  Alan Hutson, P.E., vice president/principal of professional consulting firm Freese and Nichols, has a new role as division manager-Central Plains, at the Oklahoma City office. He will lead the continued diversification of services for state and local clients in Oklahoma and the ..

Business News

Reed Manufacturing Celebrates 125 Years  Reed Manufacturing in Erie, Pa., is celebrating 125 years of supplying the highest-quality pipe tools and vises for professional trades.  Carl Reed, scion of one of Erie’s pioneer families, along with three partners, started the business in 1896, manufactur..

Rehab News

Vortex AccuPower Designed to Remove Concrete, Heavy Debris, CIPP Lining Without Damaging Host Pipe  The Vortex Companies, a leading provider of advanced trenchless water and sewer technologies and infrastructure renewal services, introduced the new AccuPower High-Pressure Water Blaster.  Built upo..

Newsline

San Diego Accelerates Pace of Utility Undergrounding  San Diego officials have approved a plan to accelerate the relocation and burial of every residential overhead utility line in the city underground.  The new deal with San Diego Gas  & Electric creates a citizens’ oversight panel for undergroun..

Pipelines Push Back Against New Reliability Regulatory Agency

By Stephen Barlas, Washington D.C. Editor A House Democratic subcommittee chairman is teeing up legislation creating a new regulatory agency that would ostensibly safeguard interstate pipeline reliability. The House subcommittee on energy held a hearing on Jan. 19 on the Energy Product Reliability ..

Editor's Log

By Robert Carpenter, Editor-in-Chief By the time this article is published, who knows what will have happened with the Russian war on Ukraine. Our prayers are for a peaceful and positive resolution for Ukraine and the Western World, and an end to the criminal actions of the despot Vladimir Putin.  ..

Business People

Lockwood Andrews & Newnam  Mekbib Degaga, P.E., joined planning, engineering and program management firm Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc. (LAN), as a senior project manager, serving clients in California.  He has more than 2..

Imerys Celebrates 30 Years of Sewpercoat in North America

Calcium aluminate has been used in sewer environments since the 1940s. Initially, the drivers were resistance to sulfates in soil, rapid return to service and superior abrasion resistance.  Over time, it became clear that Calcium Aluminate Concrete showed improved corrosion durability, even in the ..