Communities are constantly changing, and the demands on infrastructure evolve with them. Recent census results revealed that the U.S. population grew by 7.4% over the last decade. And movement within the country means that many states grew even faster.

Even with the right tools, standards-compliant sewer inspections require time and resources. But many wastewater departments only need a general understanding of a pipe or manhole’s condition to guide decisions when it comes to prioritizing cleaning and assessment.

Communities across North America have turned to Quickview airHD to meet that need. Its high-powered Quad-Haloptic light engine and HD camera can assess sewer condition rapidly and affordably, making it ideal for prioritizing cleaning and rehab activities, conserving CCTV resources, and avoiding confined space entry.

Many wastewater operators are fighting an uphill battle. Underground infrastructure across North America is reaching a critical age, and regular inspection and maintenance are essential to ensuring system function. But those require skilled labor and money—which are in short supply in many municipalities.

Most of the work tackled by the ROVVER X sewer inspection crawler is routine sewer inspection work: driving up main lines, capturing CCTV footage for mandatory, scheduled assessments. But this nimble, powerful crawler is designed to withstand even the most punishing underground environments. That durability, plus its compact, portable design, means that over the years it has been deployed in a range of off-road — and off-label — sites.

For both contractors and municipalities, there’s a lot that goes into running a successful wastewater maintenance operation. The precarious work requires vigor, patience and skill. It requires planning, organization and solutions-based mindsets. And it requires capable, productive equipment. Above all else, a successful wastewater operation needs a loyal team that’s committed to the work.

Maintaining sewer systems can be precarious work. Because of the punishing conditions sewers are exposed to daily, a variety of issues can arise—many of which are out of the control of those working to maintain them. But being able to identify the problem, and find and provide a solution is crucial to maintaining any wastewater system. Sometimes, however, those challenges are a bit more unique and require sewer professionals to think further outside the box.