The new VC500 controller for the ROVVER X sewer inspection crawler allows for an efficient workflow. From crawler operation and video recording to observation entry and report generation, the VC500 helps ease your inspection process.

To help bring you up to speed on this new controller, Envirosight has created seven short training videos that cover everything from basic navigation to inspection, measurement and reporting. Take just twenty minutes to get a solid foundation for operating the VC500.

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The new VC500 controller for the ROVVER X sewer inspection crawler is the industry’s first to allow an operator to make a standards-compliant inspection, then upload it wirelessly to the cloud for instant access anywhere, on any device with a browser. The new controller also includes a suite of tools to measure pipe diameter and bend, crack size, obstructions, flow level, lateral diameter and angle, and inclination. In addition, it brings drag-and-drop simplicity to the task of overlaying video with inspection data, system status and images.

Here’s a brief introduction to its core features:

No doubt, sewer inspection gives municipalities a wealth of information, from what defects exist in pipes, to the presence of inflow and infiltration; from pipe rehabilitation needs, to the general condition of underground infrastructure. However, the City of Santa Fe’s Wastewater Management Division takes the investigative powers of their ROVVER X sewer inspection camera a step further by performing quality control.

When it came time to replace Lancaster Area Sewer Authority’s lateral launch sewer inspection system, John Vilga, the Authority’s Maintenance Supervisor, wanted a more dependable system that didn’t come with a steep learning curve.

Being properly equipped makes sewer inspection more effective. Jim Legg, the Wastewater Operations Supervisor for the Uxbridge, MA Department of Public Works, knows this better than most. “When we got our ROVVER X in 2011, it was our first crawler system,” says Legg. “Before that we were using an old push camera that could only go 70 or 80 feet down a line. There was a lot that we just couldn’t do.” When Uxbridge decided to purchase their first crawler, they looked to their longtime dealer Brian Kennedy of JF McDermott. “We bought from him before and trusted what he had to say,” says Legg. The crew purchased a ROVVER X system installed into an Outpost transport enclosure. This gave them the portability to use the crawler how and where they needed, whether down narrow city streets or on easements. Since then, the crew has purchased a Jetscan video nozzle, a Verisight push camera and a Quickview airHD zoom camera.

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. 

When Mark Aure, owner and operator of Pipe Detectives of Fargo, ND, started his sewer inspection and cleaning business he also wanted to help farmers protect one of their biggest investments—drain tile systems. He spent 18 years in the construction industry, much of which was devoted to installing drain tile systems, and he knew he wanted to continue working with farmers to make sure they got quality installations. Drain tile systems remove excess water from soil. These systems alleviate saturated soil conditions, maintaining optimal moisture for plant growth. Oversaturated soil can kill or damage crops by depriving roots of oxygen (source).

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.

A preventative maintenance program for sewer inspection equipment is the first step a municipality should take to maximize uptime and equipment longevity. Raleigh’s Department of Transportation, Stormwater Maintenance Unit (SMU) can attest to this. “We inspect 60,000 linear feet of pipe annually with our Quickview zoom camera and ROVVER X sewer camera,” says Don Hickman, CCTV Operations Crew Supervisor. Their ROVVER X system has been in service since early 2014. To this day, members of the community congratulate the crew on their new truck. “It is so gratifying to tell curious community members that our truck and equipment has been in service since 2014 and is on the road nearly every day. You can see the level of respect we gain in their eyes—so many municipal workers get a bad rap for not caring about taxpayers’ investments.”

Gas line cross bores are a huge danger lurking underground. With the popularity of trenchless construction methods and the prevalence of legacy cross bores, locating and eliminating them is critical to preventing potentially deadly explosions. Full lateral inspections using a lateral launch crawler are advised where legacy cross bores are a risk, and wherever new HDD gas line installation is completed. Learn about preventing, detecting and repairing cross bores with this curated selection of expert articles: