Rotary action eliminates grease

Problem

Grease clogs in the three major wet wells of Culver City, Calif., backed up the sanitary sewers. Officials needed a way to resolve the issue without demanding more manpower or budget.

 

Solution

Representatives from Gamajet Cleaning Systems demonstrated the Gamajet VIII rotary impingement tank cleaner to authorities. A standard city jetter powered the fluid-driven machine at 65 gpm/300 psi. After lowering it into a lift station, two high-impact jets blasted grease from the walls and bottom in a 360-degree pattern. The emulsified grease then flowed downstream to a waiting cleaning crew.

 

Result

The station was grease-free in 12 minutes. The facility supervisor says it was the cleanest he has ever seen it. The city bought a machine, scheduled the stations for regular cleaning and eliminated the clogging problem. 877/426-2538; www.gamajet.com.

 

Waterjetter cuts roots

Problem

Root-clogged laterals caused innumerable problems for property managers in the Baltimore, Md., area. The residential equipment used by local plumber Samuel Perlman of TUFFGUY Plumbing lacked sufficient power to be effective.

 

Solution

A product demonstration at a property Perlman services introduced him to the KJ-3100 waterjetter from RIDGID. Operating at 5.5 gpm/3,000 psi, the unit cleared blockages in 2- to 10-inch drains. Perlman says the line probably remained open for a month.

 

Result

Perlman purchased the jetter with a Root Ranger 3000 nozzle. “I’m a firm believer in RIDGID,” he says. “As far as trade tools, RIDGID is by far the way to go.” 800/769-7743; www.ridgid.com.

 

Bioremediation dissolves grease

Problem

The high cost of removing grease from 79 lift stations in Charlotte, N.C., prompted Stuart Rosenberger, station manager at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities, to search for another approach.

 

Solution

In 2011, Rosenberger agreed to a pilot study using BioPlug from Vaporooter. The 100 percent bacterial formula converts grease into carbon dioxide and water. Crews changed the plugs monthly and noticed how the product reduced the time they spent cleaning the structures. At the end of the study, the utilities purchased BioPlug for problematic stations.

 

Result

“This is the first product I’ve seen that actually slowed grease accumulation and reduced costs,” says Rosenberger. 800/841-1444; www.vaporooter.com.