Technology
Limiting SSOs with superior sewer maintenance tools, techniques
(UI) — Most municipalities are fully aware that preventing sewer overflows is a national enforcement priority for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), yet many struggle to stay compliant. Too often, when municipalities are short-staffed and must maintain miles of sewer line, they end up simply responding to emergencies.
Info-Tech: Digitalization for utilities is a “double-edged” sword regarding cybersecurity
To protect the organization from cyberattacks, security leaders are expected to bridge the gap between strategy development and tactical implementation. A report from Info-Tech Research Group provides an overview of the current cybersecurity landscape for the utilities sector.
Itasca releases geotechnical modeling technology for civil, energy engineering
FLAC3D v9 represents the company’s most advanced geomechanical modeling software, designed for solving complex civil engineering challenges such as slope stability, underground excavation, tunneling, soil-structure interaction, and earthquake simulation.
Fiber Broadband Association digs into microtrenching’s ability to close the digital equity gap
(UI) — The new Fiber Broadband Association white paper explores multiple fiber deployment styles, including microtrenching, horizontal directional drilling, plowing, conventional trenching, and missile boring.
Researchers develop safety monitoring system for construction sites
(UI) — University of Houston computer scientists have developed a new system to keep construction workers safe at job sites. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, 4,764 workers died on the job in 2020. Employees in construction and extraction occupations accounted for 20% of those deaths.
Virginia piloting underground technology to assist in locating parking spots
(UI) — The three-year pilot project aims to improve the user experience for metered parking spaces in two key commercial-residential corridors in Arlington, Va. The pilot will use underground sensors to provide real-time occupancy information for each of the parking spaces included in the project area.
Wavin invests in Aquacycl high strength wastewater treatment technology
(UI) — Orbia's building and infrastructure business Wavin, a water technology leader, has awarded $50,000 in non-dilutive capital to Aquacycl, an energy-neutral wastewater treatment technology company.
ProStar expands with acquisition of underground locating technology PointMan
(UI) — ProStar Holdings Inc., a provider of precision mapping solutions, announced that it has expanded its footprint in Australia with the adoption of PointMan by Provac. Provac Australia Pty. Ltd. provides unparalleled reliability and trusted services in both underground utility locating and non-destructive vacuum digging.
Tech Tips: Locating underground assets
(UI) — As municipalities and other agencies embrace the concept of asset management for their underground infrastructure, locating and identifying those assets become more important. In the past, the options for locating and identifying underground assets were a challenge.
CASE introduces new 580SV Construction King backhoe loader
(UI) — CASE Construction Equipment has announced the expansion of its backhoe loader line with the launch of five additional new backhoe loader models, including the all-new CASE 580SV Construction King.
Technical guide to variations of close-fit liners for mainline pipe
(UI) — Cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) has surpassed more than 52 years of successful and diversified installations. Over those years, the technology has advanced with development of new techniques and products that have influenced cost, quality and installation speed.
Cloud platform gives communities control over their revenue management destiny
(UI) — When the effects of rampant inflation became apparent in Nevada’s Virgin Valley Water District in 2022, a tank installation project budgeted for $2.4 million – similar to a $2-million-project completed in 2018 – received a bid of $3.6 million. So Chief Financial Officer Wes Smith set to work recalculating the projected cost of planned capital projects.
Rural water district finds success with fusion, HDPE technologies
(UI) — For decades, Randall Community Water District worked with PVC pipe, joining the pipe with bell gaskets. But when the water district was faced with a 3,000-foot bore that couldn’t be done with PVC, Manager Scott Pick realized he needed to find another solution.
Teledyne FLIR debuts new optical gas imaging cameras for leak detection and repair professionals
The G-Series is designed to empower everyday users in the oil and gas and utility industries to spend more time prioritizing leak repairs, and less time documenting them while gaining better insight into the severity of the emission.
ULC Technologies launches robotic system for underground utility damage prevention
The semi-autonomous robotic platform utilizes a sensor suite comprised of ground penetrating radar (GPR) and electromagnetic sensors to detect and mark out below ground infrastructure.
Ethiopia, the Netherlands endorse digital twin water management initiative
The Ethiopian SDG6 Water Management initiative aims to reduce non-revenue water, increase water quality, and improve access to water by leveraging digital technology. The solution will measure, report, and verify the outcomes of water management using digital twins in a fully digital and transparent manner.
Tech Tips: Understanding and using ASTM standards in your specifications
(UI) — Nearly every municipal project specification contains a reference section detailing a variety of ASTM standards that are critical to the material performance, installation performance, and quality control of most products and projects. To many in the engineering field, this list of references can be somewhat confusing and require detailed understanding to make sure one is using the correct standard for the product or process that is being specified.
First Look: Discover Advanced Mobile Leak Detection detects pipeline gas leak immediately
(UI) — The key to discovering and repairing natural gas leaks before they become catastrophic is more vigilance, and that’s what Heath Consultants is striving to achieve with its new Discover Advanced Mobile Leak Detection (AMLD) system.
Buffalo Sewer Authority saves $145 million, cuts pollution with smart sewer technology
A collaboration with global water technology leader Xylem, the project recently won an IWA (International Water Association) award for transforming Buffalo’s sewer network by automatically redirecting excess rainwater to underused parts of its system to prevent overflows.
RodRadar signs $1.4 million deal with Sitech Tejas
(UI) — RodRadar, developers of groundbreaking imaging technology for detecting underground utility infrastructure during excavation, has entered into a $1.4 million agreement with SITECH Tejas, a HOLT company. The deal will see the North American dealer add RodRadar’s debut product, LDR Excavate, to its portfolio of heavy civil construction solutions.
HammerHead opens new CIPP Order Fulfillment Center in Florida
(UI) — A new HammerHead Trenchless Order Fulfillment Center (OFC) located in West Melbourne, Florida, is now fully operational. Cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) installers throughout the Southeast United States are receiving their orders for consumables faster.
Steve Gearhart retires from Vortex Companies Division, CIPP Corp.
(UI) — CIPP Corp., a Vortex Company, has announced the retirement of Steve Gearhart, a founding partner of CIPP Corp. Vortex veteran and Regional Vice President-Services, Connor Collier, has been named vice president of CIPP Corp. and will lead the company in its next evolution of growth.
What is the difference between UV and Bluelight LED?
Light-cured lateral CIPP lining is one of the most popular trends in trenchless rehabilitation technologies and one of the questions we hear a lot is, “what’s the difference between Bluelight LED and UV?”
Rehab News: Cherne Introduces World’s Largest Test Ball
(UI) — The 72- to 120-inch Test-Ball was carefully developed with an optimized design that offers improved performance and safety for blocking flow in the biggest pipes in sanitary and storm sewer systems.
New Products
Latest industry developments
Tech Tips: Solving Infiltration Problems After Structural Rehabilitation
(UI) — The process of sewer system Inflow & Infiltration (I&I) removal requires a holistic approach to truly be effective. Specifically, all four points of infiltration must be addressed to achieve ultimate success. These four points are manholes, mainline joints, service connections and service laterals.
Atlas Copco launches fully electric self-priming dewatering pump range solution
(UI) — The E-Pump range, which comprises the PAC High Head and High Flow models, offers an electric alternative to diesel-powered dewatering pumps. This allows customers to reduce their CO2 footprint and operate in emission-restrictive areas with no fuel consumption. This flexible solution is ideally suited for many applications like sewage bypass, dewatering in mining, and urban construction projects with access to a power source.
Vac-Con releases new non-CDL Titan sewer cleaning truck
(UI) — Vac-Con has introduced its non-CDL Titan three-yard combination sewer cleaning truck, which weighs under 26,000 GVWR with full freshwater tanks and features three-yards of usable capacity in the debris body.
Vortex Companies adds small diameter pipe UV curing technology to UV CIPP solution suite
(UI) — MICROcure is specifically engineered to reline sewer mains, laterals, and interior plumbing systems ranging from 3-inch to 10-inch in diameter and works with both inversion and CIPP methods. Designed for portability, MICROcure is built on a two-wheel carriage and weighs only 176 pounds.
Ayyeka introduces new sewer overflow data management technology
(UI) — Ayyeka’s latest product, Storm Scope, addresses the endless issues connected to combined sewer overflow data management. The Storm Scope software platform collects and organizes data from remote locations, transforming distant landscapes into manageable assets.
- TxDOT advances massive drainage tunnel beneath I-35 in Austin
- Glenfarne Alaska LNG targets late-2026 construction start for 807-mile pipeline project
- U.S. water reuse boom to fuel $47 billion in infrastructure spending through 2035
- $2.3 billion approved to construct 236-mile Texas-to-Gulf gas pipeline
- Major water pipe break in Puerto Rico hits over 165,000 customers
- Pennsylvania American Water launches interactive map to identify, replace lead water service lines
- Trump's tariffs drive $33 million cost increase for Cincinnati sewer project
- Utah city launches historic $70 million tunnel project using box jacking under active rail line
- Tulsa residents warned after sewer lines damaged by boring work
- Fatal trench collapse halts sewer construction in Massachusetts; two workers hospitalized