Underground Infrastructure - April 2023 - 39

LEFT: With the goal of eliminating SSOs, KEG's training program corrects
common cleaning errors that can waste water, labor and time.
line defects or openings, combined with inappropriate materials
sent to sewers, " said Dan Story, operations manager at KEG
Technologies, a manufacturer of sewer and storm line products
including nozzles, chain cutters and camera nozzle systems.
" This includes fats, oils and grease, along with products like
baby or facial wipes, sanitary pads and tampons. Non-degradable
wipes are a particular problem, when flushed, because they get
hung up in roots and start catching all the grease and debris. Everything
builds until the line is stopped, which leads to an SSO. "
Proactively preventing blockages and removing those in
progress is critical because failing to do so can lead to devastating
consequences.
" Sewer pipes fill up from any blockage and can back up into
homes or run down the street, " Story explained. " So, the federal
government mandates that a certain amount of sewer line
must be properly maintained annually, or fines are levied. "
Fortunately for municipalities, using the industry's most
effective tools and techniques can virtually eliminate SSOs
and, in some instances, have done so for decades. This is first
achieved by preventing most sewer line blockages with powerful
nozzles and efficient cleaning.
Next, camera nozzles can quickly identify developing blockages
during routine cleaning without deploying a separate
camera crew. When the blockages must be removed, utilizing
various cutters including robust chain cutters can do so quickly
and efficiently. Finally, learning the most effective cleaning
techniques from experts in the industry can further facilitate
proper sewer line maintenance.
Preventing SSOs
Properly designed, operated and maintained sanitary sewer
systems are meant to collect and transport all the sewage
that flows into them to a publicly owned treatment works
(POTW). However, unintentional discharges of raw sewage
from municipal sanitary sewers occasionally occur in almost
every system.
ensure that wastewater is being conveyed to treatment plants
in accordance with the requirements of the Clean Water Act, "
according to the agency's website. " To eliminate SSOs, EPA
uses a mix of compliance and enforcement tools. "
SSOs are overflows, or releases, from sanitary sewer systems
and are illegal under the Clean Water Act. They have a variety of
causes, including, but not limited to, severe weather, improper
system operation and maintenance, as well as vandalism.
EPA estimates there are at least 40,000 SSOs each year.
The untreated sewage from these overflows can contaminate
the nation's waters, causing serious quality problems. It can
also back up into basements, causing property damage and
threatening public health.
" Today, one of the greatest underlying causes of SSOs is sewer
pipe blockages due to growing tree roots that enter through
The first line of defense against such SSOs is to use specifically
powerful nozzles to sufficiently clean sewer lines and
remove any debris, so it does not accumulate to become a
blockage. In this effort, using high-performance Tier 3 nozzles
instead of lower performing Tier 1 or 2 nozzles can be an
important advantage.
Although rated for water efficiency (Tier 1 is about 30-percent
efficient; Tier 2 is 50-to-60-percent efficient; and Tier
3 is 75-to-98-percent efficient), top Tier 3 nozzles can also
more reliably direct the most force with less water at lower
pressure to remove debris.
The most efficient Tier 3 nozzles are designed with fluid
mechanics engineering on par with the aerodynamics of race
cars. After exiting the jetter hose, water travels into the body of
the nozzle before moving through smooth, curved channels.
This design enables the water to maintain its power and speed
before entering the nozzle's replaceable titanium ceramic inserts,
UndergroundInfrastructure.com | APRIL 2023 39
http://www.UndergroundInfrastructure.com
Underground Infrastructure - April 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Underground Infrastructure - April 2023
