Underground Infrastructure - April 2023 - 40

Limiting SSOs
video that shows if there are roots in a pipe that should be
removed before they become a problem.
When a serious blockage occurs, it usually results in an
SSO, and a chain cutter is used to resolve the situation. Most
are hydraulically powered. Although this reduces the overall
cost of the unit, many hydraulic cutters supply insufficient
power or torque to cut through the heavy roots, hard mineral
deposits, grease or wipes that can be at the core of a blockage.
In some cases, the chain cutter can stall or seize up.
" Chain cutter nozzles that utilize water pressure are more
efficient and can deliver the required torque to cut through
thick masses, " advised Story. " The high-pressure water enters
the chain cutter nozzle chamber and is directed to spin the cutting
chains at high velocity. "
Municipalities can cost effectively reduce SSOs to virtually zero with proper
equipment and cleaning habits.
which help to straighten the water stream. The water is further
funneled to enable an even tighter water pattern to emerge.
The power and reliability of a Tier 3 nozzle can help operators
clean more line, more effectively, before the sewer truck
crew needs to stop work and drive to a hydrant to refill the
water tank. According to Story, a Tier-1, 30-degree drilled nozzle
running 72 gallons a minute at 2,200 PSI will only exert 13
pounds of force to move debris 9 feet away from the nozzle. In
contrast, a high-efficiency Tier-3 nozzle running 60 gallons a
minute at 2,000 PSI will exert 98 pounds of force 9 feet away.
Identifying obstructions
The EPA can hold municipalities accountable for preventing
SSOs in hundreds or thousands of miles of sewer line annually.
In addition, proper cleaning and maintenance must be
accomplished.
For these reasons, waiting for a separate crew with a
CCTV truck to access pipe conditions can be insufficient.
Out of sight, obstructions will develop into blockages that
trigger SSOs when the camera crew cannot assess all lines on
a regular basis.
To enable timely sewer line inspection when a CCTV
truck crew is unavailable, some manufacturers in the industry
have developed camera nozzles that capture video while
cleaning. As an example, KEG's KleenSight system provides
operators with the ability to clean sewer and storm lines
while recording upright high-definition video.
KleenSight has a self-leveling camera head and provides its
own illumination. Only a jetter hose connection is required -
no cables or wires. The camera captures the video in memory
and the files are automatically date- and time-stamped for later
downloading by Wi-Fi to mobile devices or PCs for viewing.
Using a nozzle-camera during routine cleaning can capture
40 APRIL 2023 | UndergroundInfrastructure.com
As an example, he points to a powerful chain cutter that
has a high-speed, high-torque, water-driven design. The chain
cutter can eliminate heavy root blockages as well as scale, rust,
mineral deposits, hardened grease, and accumulated debris.
" When you remove the roots and debris from the lines, it
becomes easy for future debris to pass through on its own. This
eliminates the problem of backing up and sanitary sewer overflow, "
Story pointed out.
Proactive
When SSOs occur and municipalities are out of EPA compliance,
it can be difficult to do more than react. However, proactively
maintaining sewer lines with the most effective tools and
tactics is vital to prevent SSOs and quickly resolve them if they
occur. For this reason, KEG offers customized training programs
to municipalities that specifically target the challenge of SSOs.
With the goal of eliminating SSOs, the training program corrects
common cleaning errors, such as excessive operator speed
going up the sewer line, which ends up wasting water, labor and
time when multiple passes are required. Proper line assessment
and cleaning speed allow operators to adjust to circumstances
as needed while minimizing water use.
When operators complete the training, most will understand
how to " chop up the debris and let the flow of water work
like a conveyor belt, carrying the debris out, " explained Story.
They will be trained to " go from manhole to manhole and clean
in a single pass. " It takes a fraction of the time and resources
to make one pass versus making several passes to remove the
same material.
The results of being proactive with equipment and training
to minimize SSOs have been more successful than might be
expected.
" One city in Arizona that we have worked with has not had
an SSO in 30 years. It's all about staying on top of your game, "
concluded Story. UI
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Del Williams is a technical writer who lives
in Torrance, Calif.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
KEG Technologies, (866) 595-0515, kegtechnologies.net
http://www.kegtechnologies.net http://www.UndergroundInfrastructure.com
Underground Infrastructure - April 2023

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