Sewer inspections aren’t one-size-fits-all. Some inspections are routine, others are emergency callouts to explore unknown conditions underground. So when it’s time to invest in a new crawler system, it’s important to consider both your current and your future inspection needs for your sewer camera.
Formed in 1968, the Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati (MSD) maintains over 3,000 miles of sewer pipe. MSD’s collection system, which serves about 230,000 households and businesses, includes both older combined sewers and separate sanitary sewers, making maintenance and compliance an ongoing challenge.
When you’re confronted with the unexpected underground, things can quickly take a turn for the worst. Our new ROVVER X crawler with integral lift easily factors in the unknowns of sewer assessment, supporting a more fluid and efficient inspection process.
Driving an inspection crawler through sewers is challenging work in of itself. But when the equipment isn't built well, the task becomes even harder. No sewer pro wants to waste time fiddling with bolts and losing screws to swap out wheels and adjust inspection crawler height. Throw in a pair of heavy work gloves and uncooperative weather, and a regular day in the field can become a real hassle.
Arold Construction has been building and rehabilitating infrastructure for nearly 50 years. With 65 employees across trenchless, civil, and water and wastewater services, its team tackles everything from cured in place pipe (CIPP) lining to bridge construction.
There’s no such thing as a typical sewer inspection anymore. Sometimes, you need flexible data that can quickly transfer from remote worksites. Sometimes, you need hi-res images to pinpoint exact defects in a pipe. And sometimes, you need something in between. When demands vary from pipe to pipe, you need powerful technology that can keep your team on track.
“Nuclear is a specialty niche,” explains Carl Beitner, operations manager at Elite Pipeline Services. As a contractor, “if you haven’t worked in nuclear, you won't work in nuclear without support. Safety is first and foremost throughout the industry, where even walking is considered working. And to work in nuclear, you must have conscientious, trustworthy employees and a clean record.”
When Shawn and Sara Wenner acquired Empire Pipe in North Mankato, Minnesota, in 2009, they were taking a gamble. The company exclusively worked with excavating contractors performing post-inspections, and demand had slowed to a trickle during the recession. “It was a baptism by fire,” notes Shawn.
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?
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.
