WinCan’s new MACP reference poster can be used to help your inspection team easily identify the components of a manhole and properly code defects.

Wastewater systems allow communities around the world to manage wastewater and keep public areas clean, healthy and habitable. Sewer pipes, the conduits for the removal of waste, are the most fundamental piece of this essential infrastructure.

Flooding is a concern in almost every part of the world. And in the United States specifically, flooding has caused more death and destruction than any other kind of natural disaster, according to National Geographic. 

Floods pose a threat to people, homes and buildings, and to civil infrastructure, including wastewater systems.

Wastewater industry professionals have carried on much the same during the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring that essential services are getting the attention they need to provide for communities. But while the specific needs of sewer systems haven’t shifted much, the industry’s financial situation has, forcing departments across the United States to reevaluate and rebudget.

Wastewater asset management is a practice many operators use to develop long-term plans for sustaining wastewater systems and services. 

Wastewater systems require routine maintenance and assessment. Yet completing visual inspections of many sewer assets — when accessible — requires dangerous confined space entry; in many cases, it’s impossible for human eyes to look directly on underground assets without digging up lines. Instead, personnel rely on specially designed cameras and equipment to assess the condition of otherwise out-of-sight operations. The equipment used depends on the utility’s needs and budget, but a range of modern technologies provide fast and efficient options for gathering information about a sewer pipe’s condition, while also increasing safety.

Sewer workers face risks daily, whether it’s a confined space work environment or exposure to fumes, debris and bacteria. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 5,250 fatal work injuries were recorded in the U.S. in 2018, which is a 2 percent increase from the previous year. But protecting sewer industry workers from hazards they may encounter on the job goes beyond requiring goggles and gloves.

There’s a lot for public works departments to consider when preparing for the transition into fall’s cooler temperatures, including their effect on day-to-day sewer collection system operations. The new season brings obvious challenges for wastewater systems — like fall foliage and increased rainfall — but it can also impact a department’s ability to inspect efficiently.

Software has an end of life, it is just not as apparent as in the case of hardware. It doesn’t just simply stop powering on. Usually operators are the first to notice that software isn’t performing the way it was built. It slows down, crashes and requires duplication of effort instead offering seamless integration. But upgrading isn’t always that easy; publicly-operated agencies have to navigate through lengthy approval processes and bureaucratic red tape to help administrators see the value in upgrading their software. 

WinCan has released the third and final piece of its PACP Code Reference poster series: Construction Features & Miscellaneous Codes.