Flexible Pipes Sewer Studies is a collection of informative articles designed to better educate anyone working in the municipal water industry. Our staff has spent the last 30 years collaborating with some of the most innovative manufacturers in the field, constantly striving to enhance operator comfort, efficiency, and, above all, safety. We hope to share our extensive knowledge with anyone looking to improve their workplace and the infrastructure they maintain.

How Versatile Is Your Combination Truck?

With the price of major equipment in the sewer and water industry nearly doubling in the last decade and projected to continue rising, it’s crucial to maximize every dollar in a municipality’s tight budget. Every truck on the market today offers a range of features designed to do it all, but the effectiveness of these features is a key factor in a truck’s versatility.

A combination truck is already a valuable piece of equipment, designed for high-pressure jetting while also providing powerful vacuuming capabilities. Nearly every truck on the market is equipped with 80-gallon-per-minute pumps and can achieve a minimum of 2000 psi. Additionally, they typically come with an 8-inch vacuum tube and a blower powerful enough for maintenance cleaning at lift stations. Since the capabilities of these trucks are similar, the advantages lie in how each truck is designed to meet these standards.

The three essential factors to consider when evaluating a truck are efficiency, reliability, and ease of operation. When examining the jetting operation, it’s important to understand the type of pump a truck uses—either a Triplex or a single piston. A Triplex pump provides a smoother operation with consistent pressure to the nozzle, compared to the jackhammer effect of a single piston, which experiences spikes and drops in pressure. This consistent pressure helps the nozzle navigate hills and work over joints in the pipe more effectively. It also minimizes streaking in the pipe while cleaning difficult materials like grease. As a result, operators can clean further and more effectively, allowing them to accomplish more tasks in a single workday. Moreover, the smooth operation puts less strain on the reel, reducing jumping and shaking of the hose.

Another reliability factor is the placement of the water pump and the plumbing from the water tanks to the pump. A truck with complex plumbing or a pump mounted above the water tanks can allow air to enter the system, causing the pump to cavitate and greatly diminishing its lifespan. It’s essential that operating the truck is not complicated. Ensuring that on-call operators feel confident in running the truck during emergencies is vital for their safety, as well as for the protection of your equipment and infrastructure. Pay attention to how easy it is for an operator to set up the truck for a job. Observe the location of the controls—having a central area to manage operations can limit unnecessary movement around the truck and streamline the process of running the equipment. The controls should also be simple to understand; a truck that is confusing or requires extensive expertise may limit the number of operators capable of operating it.

Increasingly, combination trucks are being equipped with hydro excavation circuits, allowing them to perform double duty. As previously mentioned, understanding how these features are implemented is critical. The blower is the most important piece of equipment for hydro excavation. Historically, fan units have been the most common type of blower found on vacuum trucks due to their loose tolerances, which allow them to withstand more damage. However, the market is shifting, and more operators are now utilizing positive displacement (PD) blowers. PD blowers, with their tighter tolerances, offer a much higher standard of performance, enabling operators to dig deeper, longer, and more efficiently. The filtration systems for PD blowers have advanced, providing enhanced protection for the equipment. A well-protected blower should have multiple cyclone filters to collect dust, along with a 10-micron final filter to capture fine particles. The larger the cyclone filters and the more final filters available on a truck, the greater its reliability. However, it is also important that the filters are easy to clean, both for operator comfort and to ensure proper maintenance is performed.

Although most combination trucks on the market can work effectively as hydro excavators, not all of them combine efficiency, reliability, and ease of operation.

When considering a truck, there are additional questions to address, such as wear points like boom tubes or the materials used for the water tanks. These are common failure points on certain trucks that can drain your budget and lead to significant downtime. A combination truck is a complex piece of equipment, but certain aspects should be straightforward. It should be simple to maintain, easy to diagnose problems, and most importantly, straightforward to operate. If your next truck checks these boxes, you are likely to be satisfied with your choice.

If you would like to learn more about finding the best equipment for your needs or have questions about your current equipment, please contact one of our experts. We would love to hear from you!

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How Small Communities Can Combat Aging Infunstructure

The Problems Facing Small Communities

In Minnesota and the Dakotas, public works operators in small towns are struggling to address wastewater infrastructure issues that are being resolved too slowly by their respective state governments. These challenges not only make it harder for operators to manage these systems but also negatively affect the public health of the communities they serve. So, what can these communities do to protect and provide for themselves, as they often do?

In 2014, the Center for Small Towns at the University of Minnesota-Morris conducted a study and surveyed operators across rural Minnesota. The survey found that nearly two-thirds (63%) of operators identified infiltration and inflow as the biggest challenges facing their wastewater infrastructure. The main causes of infiltration and inflow were identified as cracks and breaks in the underground pipes, primarily due to poor stormwater management and aging infrastructure.

In many of these communities, most of the wastewater infrastructure consists of clay pipes that were installed decades ago. These clay pipes become increasingly difficult to maintain as they age, with factors such as the depth of the pipe and the vegetation in the soil significantly affecting their lifespan. Roots are the primary cause of intrusions into the pipes, leading to failures. While a good maintenance schedule using jetting equipment can help keep these pipes free of blockages, it cannot always prevent infiltration and inflow.

The same study by the Center for Small Towns reported that three-quarters of operators indicated their towns had plans to address the issue of aging infrastructure. However, more than a third of these operators stated they lacked the funding for these expensive projects. Completely replacing pipes with more durable PVC alternatives is costly, and even hiring contractors to line existing pipes with a resin coating can be difficult for these communities with small tax bases to manage.

How to Combat Aging Infrastructure

Until more funds are available for communities to replace and rehabilitate their wastewater systems, these problems will likely persist. Nonetheless, towns can continue to tackle these issues, and with the right equipment, they can stay ahead of problems before they escalate. Keeping up with maintenance and utilizing the appropriate nozzles for root control on jetting equipment is essential, along with having hydro-excavation equipment for safely reaching and repairing broken pipes. However, locating cracks or breaks in storm and wastewater lines is crucial for effectively addressing these issues before they worsen.

Investing over one hundred thousand dollars in a full mainline sewer inspection system would normally stretch a small town’s budget. However, for a fraction of the cost, using simple municipal-sized push cameras enables operators to collect data on the condition of their infrastructure. This video footage of pipelines has proven extremely useful for utility supervisors when presenting to their governing bodies, helping them acquire the much-needed funds to ensure that utilities function properly and that the community remains safe.

For more information on sewer inspection equipment contact one of our industry professionals.

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Hydro Excavation Benefits Point to the Future

Old Tech in a Growing Industry

Hydro excavation has been around for decades, but its significant benefits in safety and efficiency have led to a rapid increase in its adoption. This is most evident among contractors, where the number of companies using this equipment is growing quickly. The way hydro excavation works, compared to traditional digging methods, explains why many places are making the switch.

How Hydro Excavation Works

Hydro excavation is a technique used to dig and move soil without damaging underground utilities. Protecting these utilities minimizes the risks and costs often associated with traditional digging methods. This is achieved by using highly pressurized water to cut through and loosen the soil while an air vacuum simultaneously removes the debris. The high-pressure water can cut through the soil more accurately and efficiently than a traditional backhoe, leaving any cables or pipes below unscathed. In cold weather, a hydro excavation unit can include a boiler that heats the water, allowing it to cut through frozen ground more effectively than a backhoe.

Increased Efficiency helps Save Money

This method applies significantly less force to the ground than a backhoe, allowing operators to dig safely around hazardous unseen utilities like gas lines or high-voltage cables. Conventional excavation methods typically require more space or additional trucks to store or haul away materials. In contrast, a hydro excavation unit stores debris inside its tank, which can be later used to backfill holes or easily transported for disposal when the job is complete.

Hydro Excavations Saftey is its Best Quality

Manual digging is labor-intensive and time-consuming, while heavy machinery poses safety risks to workers and can damage the surrounding area. Hydro excavation eliminates these issues. It is a non-mechanical, eco-friendly, and safe approach that completes jobs faster and more accurately with less effort from laborers. This results in reduced costs and enhanced service efficiency.

Due to these benefits, hydro excavation is particularly valuable in several industries, including excavation, plumbing, sewer work, and the installation of posts and poles, among others. Its advantages are making it increasingly popular in both industrial and municipal applications.

For more information on hydro excavation equipment contact one of our industry professionals.

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Why Municipalities Incorporate Valve Exercising?

Water distribution valves are essential components of municipal water systems, primarily designed to regulate the flow and distribution of water. Often situated underground and typically left in an open position, these valves are vulnerable to several issues, including rust formation, cathodic damage, and becoming stuck in place. Over time, they may become obscured by dirt or inadvertently paved over, making them more difficult to locate and access. In colder climates, the ground’s repeated freezing and thawing can also cause the valves to shift, complicating their operation and maintenance.

A crucial aspect of valve management is the process known as valve exercising. This involves meticulously locating the valve, which may require digging or clearing away debris, and then cleaning the valve box to ensure unobstructed access to the valve nut. Once accessible, the valve must be operated to verify its functionality. It is vital to regularly turn these valves, as some can be accidentally left closed, resulting in reduced water pressure and flow rates throughout the distribution system. This exercise highlights the importance of maintaining meticulous documentation of valve maintenance activities. Keeping accurate records ensures that all valves are given appropriate attention and that any valves identified as inoperable are marked for replacement.

Undertaking valve exercising by hand can be physically demanding, posing risks of strain or injury, particularly lower back injuries, for valve operators. To mitigate these risks and improve efficiency, many cities have adopted the use of specialized valve operating machines. These machines are equipped with advanced features such as revolution counters, torque gauges, and GPS technology to accurately document valve operation data and maintenance histories.

These automated machines significantly enhance productivity, allowing for the operation of many more valves daily compared to manual methods. They contribute to a consistent workflow, ensuring that all valves in the system are exercised and maintained regularly. Complete valve maintenance units, which often include pressure washers, excavating vacuums, hydrant flushing diffusers, and valve operating machines, are typically mounted on trucks or trailers. This setup enables quick mobilization and efficient handling of valve maintenance tasks, ultimately supporting the reliable operation of water distribution systems in urban areas.

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