Abstract |
The overall objective of this EPA-funded study was to demonstrate innovative a sewer line assessment technology that is designed for rapid deployment using portable equipment. This study focused on demonstration of a technology that is suitable for smaller diameter pipes (less than 12-inch diameter). The recently developed and commercially-available acoustic-based sewer pipe assessment technology demonstrated during this study was the SewerBattTM manufactured by Acoustic Sensing Technology LTD (ASTL), based in the United Kingdom. This technology can provide a rapid assessment of the need for pipe cleaning and to detect obstructions and defects in sewer pipes. Acoustic technologies require a minimal amount of equipment when compared to traditional closed-circuit television (CCTV) inspection systems. This acoustic based technology has the potential to provide information in a matter of minutes to assist an operator in determining whether a sewer pipe might be partially or fully blocked and require cleaning or renewal. The speed of the assessment, using minimal equipment, has the potential to result in significant cost-savings compared to traditional methods, such as CCTV inspection. It is generally known that smaller diameter pipes (i.e., less than or equal to 12-inch diameter) contribute to over 90 percent of the sewer main backups reported in a typical city (Sprague, J., 2007). This study hence focused on the demonstration of an acoustic technology that is suited for smaller diameter pipes. |