Micro-cutter renews pipe system

Problem:
The 40-year-old cast iron stormwater drain at the Phoenix Plaza office building in Hartford, Conn., drained poorly due to root intrusion and debris.

Solution:
E&G Waterworks in Templeton, Mass., cleaned 1,200 feet of 4-inch and larger pipe with the Pneumatic Micro-Cutter from Nu Flow. The system rotates at 1,500 rpm in 1.5- to 6-inch pipes up to 100 feet long and negotiates 90-degree turns in even 2-inch pipes. The cutter, also used for reinstating, works in steel, cast iron and Orangeburg pipes.

Result:
The tool allowed workers to clean the pipe with minimal disruption, then line certain sections of it with Nu Drain. 905/433-5510; www.nuflowtech.com.

Manhole inserts stop illegal grease dumping

Problem:
The Riverside County (Calif.) health staff informed Bruce Clark, owner/manager of Clark’s Nutrition and Natural Foods Market and Organic Café in Rancho Mirage, that the grease interceptor was overflowing, but not with grease from his business.

Solution:
Clark hired SewerLock to install stainless steel manhole inserts with keyed alike shrouded padlocks in the five grease interceptor access holes. Using four anchor bolts and Liquid Nails, the installation took less than 30 minutes per insert.

Result:
The inserts ended midnight grease dumping and the costly cleanups. 408/761-5882; www.sewerlock.com.

System decreases maintenance costs

Problem:
The decentralized sewers and two lift stations serving a private mobile home park in Manatee County, Fla., required monthly cleaning to remove grease.

Solution:
BESTechnologies installed a system that automatically injected biological dosing material immediately upstream from trouble spots.

Result:
Park manager Charles Meyers realized a return on his investment in less than 12 months. He decreased annual maintenance costs by more than 50 percent, as only occasional spot cleaning was necessary. 941/907-7788; www.bestechcorp.com.

Bioremediation dissolves grease

Problem:
The high cost of removing grease from 60 lift stations at a Virginia utility led officials to test various products in the collection system, but none solved the problem.

Solution:
In 2011, the utility installed BioPlugs from Vaporooter. The multi-strain bacterial formula converts grease to harmless carbon dioxide and water. The plugs release bacteria into the lift stations for 30 days, then are replaced in a few minutes.

Results:
The product reduced grease enough to eliminate routine cleaning of most lift stations. The utility plans to expand its bioremediation program. 800/223-3684; www.vaporooter.com.