Lateral launch doesn’t have to be hard. In fact, there’s no real reason why aiming and launching a camera from one pipe to another should require sharpshooter skill. The technology is out there–it’s just a question of putting it to work. 

Recognizing a demand in the region for wastewater and stormwater system services and a desire to venture out on his own, Scott Laney started Carolina’s Underground Services in March of 2020.

Cross bores are unintended intersections of utility lines. They can occur when a new natural gas line is installed using trenchless methods and intersects an existing underground lateral sewer connection. A sewer lateral is the underground pipe that connects a residence or business to a main sewer line, which is a large-diameter pipe that channels waste from every lateral to a wastewater processing facility.

Inspecting laterals is key to finding sewer cross bores, identifying blockages and investigating illicit flows. And lateral lines often make up half of the total length of a sewer system, according to the EPA. Still, many municipalities fail to inspect them on a regular basis. Ready to start thinking about your lateral lines, but unsure where to start? These resources can help put you on the right path:

The city of Bedford, Indiana—known as the “Limestone Capital of the World”—has a population of fewer than 14,000 people. Though small, it has taken big steps in recent years to gain the upper hand over its sewer and stormwater systems. 

Sewer laterals often don’t get much attention during regular CCTV inspections. Because homeowners are responsible for their care, they are frequently left off the usual schedule. This can leave a large portion of a collection system un-inspected, un-repaired and ready to cause problems. When laterals do end up on the docket, it’s usually for one of three reasons:

Exfiltration is the leakage of wastewater out of a sanitary sewer system through broken or damaged pipes and manholes. Wastewater that leaks out of defective pipe joints and cracks may contaminate ground and surface water and cause a host of other problems, including pipe structure failures due to erosion of soil support, and ground subsidence due to erosion of underground soil. 

Most successful business ideas spark when you least expect them. This couldn’t be more true in the case of Calgary Sewer Scope founders Jamie Hannaford, a full-time firefighter, and Nicholas Whittaker, a full-time realtor. In 2014, they were enjoying a family Thanksgiving dinner when they found themselves discussing with a guest the importance of residential sewer scope inspection prior to buying a house. By the end of the conversation, they conceived the idea for Calgary Sewer Scope and worked to bring the company to life over the course of the next eleven months. In September 2015, Calgary Sewer Scope began serving residential customers. Within two short years, the company expanded its service offerings to include municipal sewer inspections, cross bore inspections for utility companies, and pre- and post- acceptance inspections. Soon they will start offering point repair for sewers. They now have three full-time staff members and work with multiple subcontractors to fulfill the needs of their business.

Being in the industry for over a decade teaches you a lot about your business, the community you serve and the equipment you need. Tailoring your capabilities to your clients' needs is crucial to success. When Advanced Underground, a Michigan-based rehabilitation contractor, needed a new lateral launch system to expand their business they knew exactly what capabilities to look for and how they wanted their inspection truck built out. So they set out to investigate at the 2016 Waste & Wastewater Equipment, Treatment & Transport (WWETT) Show.

What's the secret to becoming one of the fastest-growing private companies in the United States? Mark Mason, President and Chief Executive Officer of Blood Hound Underground, is certain that it is listening to his customers, strategically investing in equipment, and a robust preventative maintenance program.