Water Solutions You Can Trust

To collect and transport wastewater to a treatment facility for safe disposal and treatment.

Inflow and Infiltration.

Water entering the system from sources like roof drains, sump pumps, or manhole covers.

Groundwater entering sewers through cracks, joints, or defective pipes.

Provides access for inspection, cleaning, and maintenance of sewers.

A pressurized pipe that conveys wastewater under pressure from a pump station.

To lift wastewater to a higher elevation so it can flow by gravity.

At least 0.6 m/s (2 ft/s).

Hydrogen sulfide gas, toxic and explosive, common in wastewater systems.

Hard hat, safety boots, gloves, gas monitor, harness, tripod, and SCBA if needed.

Grease, roots, debris, and improper materials in the sewer.

A sewer that carries both sanitary sewage and stormwater.

A sewer that carries domestic and industrial wastewater only.

A sewer that carries only rainwater and surface runoff.

To clean and clear blockages using high-pressure water.

Closed-Circuit Television inspection of sewers.

A mechanical or hydraulic device used to remove roots from sewers.

0.5–2% slope, depending on pipe size and design standards.

Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus.

Lower Explosive Limit (minimum gas concentration that can ignite).

When wastewater level rises above the top of the pipe, often due to excessive flow or blockage.

To remove heavy inorganic materials like sand and gravel.

Leaks, cross-connections, and sources of inflow in a sewer system.

An enclosed space with limited entry/exit and potential hazardous atmosphere (e.g., manhole).

19.5% oxygen.

A legal right for utilities to access property to maintain sewer lines.

PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride).

To reduce excess stormwater entering the sewer system.

To remove large debris at pump stations or treatment plant inlets.

Hydrogen sulfide gas forming sulfuric acid.

The chamber at a lift station where wastewater collects before pumping.

Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition.

To reduce nuisance odors from sewers and pump stations.

To provide access for workers entering manholes.

A pipe connecting a building to the public sewer main.

Inflow is surface water entering sewers; infiltration is groundwater entering through leaks.

To remove sludge, grit, and debris from manholes and sewers.

Pressurized wastewater flow pumped from lift stations.

Personal Protective Equipment.

To maintain flow during sewer repairs or maintenance.

A 4-gas monitor (O₂, H₂S, CO, LEL).

90–150 m (300–500 ft).

A device that traps grease from kitchens before it enters the sewer system.

A manhole designed to handle elevation changes by dropping wastewater vertically.

Capacity, Management, Operation, and Maintenance program.

Exposure to pathogens and toxic gases.

To measure wastewater flow and identify inflow/infiltration.

To reduce buildup of sand and debris that can damage pumps and reduce capacity.

Discharge of untreated sewage from a collection system to the environment.

Test the atmosphere with a gas detector.