As extreme weather events increase around the globe, cities are looking to create more resilient infrastructure to withstand and protect against floods, hurricanes, wildfires and other high-risk events. In addition to climate change, many municipalities already face I&I challenges, and aging infrastructure puts strain on local wastewater teams. When operators can’t keep up with routine maintenance and inspection, collection systems are at a higher risk of failure, and they stand little chance against significant weather events.
In the wastewater industry, things are always changing. Populations shift, new environmental regulations pass, and daily use takes its toll. System operators and contractors need technology that can scale to meet their changing needs — including asset management and inspection software.
Utilities don’t work in a bubble. And the communities that are most effectively managing wastewater systems and other services are doing so by taking a comprehensive approach to inspection, maintenance and development.
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.
It may be hard to imagine how augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) reach beyond video games and high tech. Yet these technologies, known together as mixed reality (MR), are more accessible than one might think. Mainstream audiences got to experience them every day at Disneyland for fifteen years on Soarin’ Over California. The ride, which debuted in 2001, immersed guests in an MR aerial adventure. In addition to video and audio, flourishes of AR brought the experience to life: Small fans cast a gentle breeze across riders, and an orange-scented mist wafted through the air as they passed over video orange fields. And while the simulated experience didn’t quite capture the real life one, when families stepped off the ride, many felt as if they had truly flown across the state.
Cataloging wastewater infrastructure allows municipalities to transition from reactive organizations to proactive ones. Whether listing structural damage or blockages, or prioritizing maintenance and communication across teams, the use of catalogs increases efficiency and saves resources. To provide real value to the user, observation catalogs must produce data that is consistent, processable and translatable.
The Orange Water and Sewer Authority (OWASA) had never been satisfied by its sewer assessment and asset management program. As a special purpose government commission, it relies on service fees, not tax dollars, to provide water, sewer and reclaimed water services to select parts of Orange County, North Carolina, including the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The organization manages an extensive and complex infrastructure, including 343 miles of sewer pipe and some 22,000 water connections serving a population of approximately 80,000 people.
WinCan holds certification for more than 30 regional standards around the globe, helping solidify its world leadership within the sewer asset management industry and demonstrating its commitment to providing high quality software. Most recently, the National Association of Sewer Service Companies (NASSCO) awarded WinCan with certification for Version 7 of the industry-standard Pipeline Assessment Certification Program (PACP).
