Take a look back at some of Envirosight's most popular articles, quizzes and resources from 2021...

Without looking, there’s no way to know for sure what your sewer cleaning crew will face underground. That makes choosing which jetter nozzle to use mostly a matter of guesswork. And without any pre-inspection visual information on pipe condition, cleaning crews risk wasting their time and money. A 2015 study even found that up to 35% of sewer lines are jetted unnecessarily as part of scheduled cleaning and maintenance. While CCTV crawlers are great inspection tools, they require a lot of manpower and can be pricey to operate on every cleaning job.

Envirosight’s newest poster details the causes of inflow and infiltration, or I&I. Inflow occurs when water from aboveground sources enters sewer systems through illegal or faulty connections or openings. Infiltration happens when stormwater seeps through cracks, joints or manholes into sewer pipes. Together, I&I consists of water that does not have to be treated but ends up in a treatment plant anyway. 

Purchasing a sewer inspection crawler is a significant investment for any municipality. It’s a time-consuming process that involves research, resources and multiple decision-makers. You know that your new crawler’s performance is vital to your organization’s success, but how do you make sure you choose the right system for your needs?

Envirosight’s latest infographic depicts key steps in digital workflows for wastewater inspection. Municipalities and contractors can use it to help identify weaknesses in their current flow and understand how digital solutions can increase efficiency across the board.

Having enough time, money and resources to maintain deteriorating sewer systems is the leading challenge municipalities and wastewater professionals face. Under these circumstances, it is more important than ever to work smarter—not harder—and to direct resources where they are needed most. Doing this takes strategy and planning. That includes gaining a system-wide understanding of infrastructure condition and prioritizing resource allocation for the best return.

Many people walk over them everyday without noticing. But the colorful paint marking buried utilities underneath sidewalks and roads is essential to public safety, real estate development and infrastructure management.

The ways we gain new insight in the wastewater industry, keep up with the latest trends, and interact with others are changing as a result of current events. While this shift towards a more remote model changes how we learn and communicate, it doesn’t change the abundance of information available. Countless digital resources have cropped up from professional associations and wastewater media outlets and can be accessed regardless of your location.

Municipal wastewater contractors rely on their ability to complete jobs in an efficient and timely manner to make money—paid by the project and not by the hour. But striking a balance between increasing productivity and keeping within a budget can be difficult. While searching for ways to take on bigger projects and work more productively, contractors are often forced to get creative with their financial decisions.

Finding outside funding to support improvements and maintenance for wastewater systems can be a daunting task. But the first step in applying for a grant is identifying your needs and assets. Smart communities don’t apply for funding simply because it exists; they apply because they need it.