For infrastructure operators in the City of San Clemente, California, efficiency is a way of life. This coastal town of around 70,000 takes a comprehensive view of asset management. In doing so, it deploys strategic technology to manage risk and ensure the quality of its wastewater system — and the wellbeing of its community.

Wastewater systems are vital to ensuring the health of our communities. Yet they are constantly at risk — from both everyday wear and tear and catastrophic natural disasters — so departments must ensure their systems are resilient and sustainable.

In the realm of asset management and data storage software, the term “workflow” is frequently used. For operators in the field, it applies to work order creation and prioritization, how they set up their worksite, or how they finalize and submit inspection data. But for software, a workflow encompasses a wide array of procedures, macros and background functionality performed by various software components working together to remove personnel from menial tasks.

As the United States moves into the summer months, the nation moves from one flood season to another. Currently, St. Louis, Mo. and other midwestern communities are grappling with flooding brought on by higher than expected rainfall flowing into the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. As the summer continues, much of the Midwest and Southwestern United States will face high water events. Though occasional overflows are a natural part of living in a floodplain, major floods can bring a host of problems to an area, including damaged infrastructure and residences, hazardous waste leakage, and increased mosquito populations.

The departure of long-time employees can be a concern for companies and municipalities and lead to questions of how they will effectively replace such valuable workers and their wealth of knowledge and experience.

Monitoring municipal and industrial wastewaters is an important part of tracking and managing pollutants. This is particularly relevant for contaminants like PFAS, which can remain unchanged through the wastewater treatment processes. In fact, wastewater treatment plant effluent is a major contributor of PFAS in surface water. Understanding the role that treatment plants play in managing this hazard can help us better understand the affects of PFAS on human health and the environment.

Water fuels life. It’s an essential resource the world needs, so recycling it only makes sense. Recycled water and wastewater has environmental and economical benefits, and a variety of uses. While agricultural irrigation is a popular, non-potable application, potable uses are becoming more mainstream. Craft brewing has exploded onto the American beer scene, and with it brings the opportunity for small and independent breweries to play with nontraditional beer-making processes. But, the unchanging resource needed in all beer brewing? Water.

Making the decision to change or upgrade inspection data software is a big step. Integrating that new software with other current systems is an even bigger project. So when the decision is made and the software rollout begins, thorough training sometimes falls by the wayside. But ensuring your team gets up to speed on your new tech quickly is vital to its success, so well-thought-out training can make a significant difference.

Wastewater collection system managers know that poor maintenance and neglect can cause serious problems underground. But many don’t realize that excessive or overly aggressive cleaning can be nearly as bad. Excessive or aggressive cleaning can quickly wear down pipes and increase the rate at which the pipeline degrades, shortening its lifespan. Unnecessary cleanings also waste resources like water, fuel and crew time. To avoid this issue, system managers must have clear, accurate inspection data.