What equipment has improved wastewater management?

Wastewater management involves the oversight of the processes and procedures used during the treatment of wastewater. This field ensures that contaminants are removed from the sewage such that it can be either reused or returned to the water cycle with little to no impact on the environment.

For management and treatment to be effective, the piping infrastructure must be capable of safely conveying wastewater to the treatment plant. However, as piping systems age, they become susceptible to various defects and deficiencies, such as cracks, settlement, tree root infiltration, loose joints, and other disturbances which can compromise their integrity.

These deteriorating infrastructure can increase the amount of inflow and infiltration (i.e., unaccounted water from the environment, e.g., stormwater) entering the system, causing dilution of the sewage intended for treatment. Increased levels of inflow and infiltration can create additional hydraulic load on the system, which can result in decreased treatment efficiency and, ultimately, the release of untreated water into the receiving water.

Specialized equipment is, therefore, required to repair and maintain wastewater infrastructure and systems to prevent treatment issues and avoid the creation of public health hazards. Since the advent of trenchless technology, many municipalities have moved away from traditional excavation/open-cut methods.

Trenchless equipment has revolutionized the wastewater management industry, allowing sewer piping infrastructure to be constructed, repaired, replaced, and maintained with little to no disturbance to the surrounding environment. The use of trenchless equipment has resulted in significantly less working hours and, ultimately, cost savings on repair and rehabilitation jobs.

Some of the trenchless equipment known to have improved wastewater management and treatment processes include:

• Pneumatic and hydraulic pipe bursting systems – These rehabilitation tools shatter existing piping by forcing it outward, displacing the old pipe fragments into the surrounding soil. (Read The Difference Between Pneumatic and Static/Hydraulic Pipe Bursting.)
• Sliplining equipment – This includes the suite of tools and equipment used for sliplining procedures.
• Cured-in-place pipe lining systems (CIPP) – Boiler trucks, steam generators, inversion equipment, and robotic cutters are used to install structural liners inside host sewer pipes for strengthening and rehabilitation purposes. (Read Why CIPP Is Growing Rapidly for Drinking Water Mains.)
• CCTV and imaging equipment – These remote imaging tools allow inspectors to view the inside of sewer pipes to identify and locate various types of piping defects.