Efficient cross-bore remediation with integrated inspection and cleaning solution
Problem: When Lake County faced an emergency where a utility contractor had accidentally cross bored through a sanitary sewer line, a fast and precise solution was required to clean the pipe, locate the damage and assess the situation before lining could begin. This project presented multiple challenges: accurately locating the cross bore, clearly visualizing the damage and thoroughly cleaning the line with only a single two-person crew.
Solution: Insight Underground Solutions responded by deploying a compact, all-in-one system that combined GapVax’s G7 jetter trailer with Can-Ex Technologies’ ZIPCAM 360 mainline nozzle camera. They began by using the G7 to clean the pipe. Immediately afterward, without remobilizing, the team deployed the ZIPCAM 360 from the nozzle of the jetter trailer. The integration between cleaning and inspection reduced downtime and increased efficiency on site. The ZIPCAM’s advanced 360-degree video capture and precise distance measurement allowed the team to pinpoint the cross bore’s location 110 feet from the access point.
Result: The system provided a full view of the pipe’s condition, confirming the extent of the damage and verifying that cleaning had been completed effectively. The cleaning, locating and inspection of the pipe were completed with a single mobilization. 866-858-9703; www.canex.tech
Water district modernizes wastewater inspection
Problem: Tuscaloosa, Alabama, manages 507 miles of sanitary sewer and 252 miles of storm drains. The city faced serious operational challenges during major events, such as football games, which temporarily swell the population by over 150,000. A reactive maintenance strategy and fragmented data across outdated CCTV software and siloed platforms made it difficult to prioritize work or respond efficiently.
Solution: To modernize its system, Tuscaloosa implemented ITpipes as the central platform for sewer inspection and data management. ITpipes Mobile and Web enabled bidirectional integration with existing systems, allowing supervisors to issue inspection work orders that sync automatically with field crews. Crews received fully populated assignments, and completed inspections were uploaded daily, giving the entire organization immediate access to accurate, centralized data.
Result: In only three years, Tuscaloosa reduced sanitary sewer overflows by over 50% — from 102 to 48 per year. With reliable inspection data, the city began executing annual CIPP lining projects, already rehabilitating more than 15 miles of sewer. Costs were reduced, service disruptions minimized and future rehab work could be budgeted and prioritized with confidence. ITpipes helped Tuscaloosa shift from fragmented operations to a streamlined, proactive system, delivering measurable improvements in performance and public service. 505-355-6829; www.itpipes.com
Camera used to survey main leak
Problem: Midlands Network in the United Kingdom was having issues with a main leaking gas out into the atmosphere through the ground and the customers’ CCTV system was having issues working.
Solution: Specialized Pipeline Solutions was called in to show their new CCTV equipment — which they work closely with QYTeco to manufacture — and alter the main to allow the system to work on live gas through a glanding system. They surveyed the 12-inch main through a 2-inch drilling under pressure, to visually inspect the joints for any damage or cracks within the pipeline. The CCTV survey was in a 12-inch main with leaking joints, and within the first 20 feet, they came across a joint with its seal hanging down inside the pipeline, which was causing the pipeline to leak.
Result: The contractor marked up each failed joint so the network could excavate and repair each failed joint, saving thousands on the reinstatement cost of randomly excavating trial holes in a main road. 958-076-0064; www.qyteco.com
