Utilizing inspection data to manage a wastewater system is a big task. With so many system assets (pipes, manholes, laterals) and so many factors that influence their performance, the amount of data collected can overwhelm even the most experienced manager. WinCan helps you correlate data to real world factors in order to distill insights, develop practical maintenance strategies and maximize your budget. The applications are numerous, and evolving mapping technologies promise to expand on them in the future.

Sewer maintenance professionals depend heavily on sewer inspection equipment and software. In simple terms, the equipment gathers video and measurements from inside the sewer, and the software allows us to classify, analyze and archive that data. With the latest generation of software yielding new insights and better maintenance decisions, choosing a software platform is as important as choosing equipment. However, software often comes bundled into a crawler sale, so purchasers may fail to understand their full range of options. Ultimately, many settle for what’s presented, rather than what’s possible.

Save the date: WinCan will be exhibiting in booth 4142 at the WWETT Show in Indianapolis, February 21-23. Stop by to see the latest additions to the industry-leading sewer inspection reporting and asset management platform, including:

Freezing temperatures can shut down much of a city, even in the most prepared areas. But even in the worst weather, the need for sewer maintenance remains high. While a storm rages above ground, effluent continues flowing and pipes continue degrading. So how do crews keep moving during storms? Prioritize.

Set yourself up for a successful 2019 with these top five resources! WinCan has compiled valuable readings for water and wastewater professionals to review during downtime this season.

Before the development of defect coding catalogs, a big issue facing sewer maintenance supervisors was consistent data. How could they take qualitative observations and turn it into measurable, actionable information? Many cities created their own defect catalogs, while others chose to tweak catalogs from other countries to fit. After the National Association of Sewer Service Companies (NASSCO) released their Pipeline Assessment and Certification Program (PACP) to the U.S., cities were able to drop their custom defect catalogs for an out-of-the-box catalog. Using the codes and ratings from PACP allows camera operators to log observations cleanly and consistently from pipe to pipe, inspection to inspection over time. Supervisors and engineers can compare defects from different parts of their system, inspected by different operators on different days, using their computers to analyze and prioritize repairs.

Water and wastewater systems are a vital aspect of our daily lives, and any upset to these systems can have a ripple effect that impacts entire communities. That’s why it’s essential for water utility companies in earthquake zones to understand the threat these disasters pose to their systems and adequately prepare for emergency situations. To minimize damage and decrease recovery time, municipalities need to take an active role in earthquake preparation.

On October 11, 2018 the U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passed the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), and now the bill is on its way to the president's desk. The WRDA is a set of laws that manage and fund the nation’s water resources. Led by the U.S. Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, the measure provides for needed investments in the nation’s ports, channels, locks, dams and other infrastructure that support the maritime and waterways transportation system and provide flood protection for homes and businesses. WRDA legislation is historically passed every two years. However, in recent years, Congress has only been able to enact three WRDA bills: in 2007, 2014 and 2016.