CEAC-2021-07-July

News
(Continued from pg. 25)
nozzles to visually show the difference such nozzles can
make.
He credits the training and demonstration with creating a
clearer understanding of effective sewer cleaning technique.
“If you clean too fast you only remove the surface layer and
leave sediment on the bottom. However, by cleaning slower
you can cut through the entire layer of debris, chop it up,
and vacuum it out,” says McLaughlin. “The takeaway was
that going slow and using less water with the right nozzle
is much more effective than rushing and having to make
multiple passes.”
McLaughlin points to the difference the training has made in
his own effectiveness.
“Cleaning a larger diameter sewer line our old way would
have taken me several passes. After the training, I was able
to clean it in one pass, while saving water and a trip to a
hydrant to refill the truck’s water tank,” he says.
According to McLaughlin, the City of Allen Park, Michigan’s
water and sewer department now uses high-efficiency Tier 3
nozzles in the field.
meeting North Carolina state mandates for sewer maintenance
easier.
“We are now using less water per pipe segment [with the
Tier 3 nozzles] and our employees love it,” Tew says. “We do
not have to work as hard but get more done. We are working
smarter, not harder.”
As a case in point, he adds, “We are mandated by the state
to clean 10 percent of our sewers a year. While we have
always met that target, we are actually above the goal now,
and our cleaning is far more efficient.”
Tew concludes, “I’d highly recommend that any municipality,
rural system, or contractor with sewer cleaning or emergency
blockage crews seek expert training. It will be an ‘eye opener’
for them. More importantly, it will change how they do
their jobs for the better.”
For more information: call 866-595-0515; fax: (866) 595-0517;
visit www.kegtechnologies.net; or write to KEG Technologies
Inc. at 6220 N. Pinnacle Drive, Spartanburg, SC 29303.
Del Williams is a technical writer based in Torrance, California.
“The result has been cleaner sewer lines and more efficient
cleaning. We are not having to repeat clean the same area,
or clean extra for inspection,” he says.
Resolving Challenging Issues on the Job
When cleaning sewer, storm and sanitary lines, municipalities
and contractors will encounter a host of issues, such as tree
roots, total blockages, and “blown toilets” that will require
the use of special techniques and equipment to resolve.
For example, among specialized nozzles that can reduce certain
issues: cutters can help with roots/vegetation; penetrating
nozzles with total blockages; and rotational nozzles with
soft blockages, according to Story.
In addition, camera nozzles, such as KEG’s KleenSight Camera-Nozzle
System, can simultaneously clean and record video
for viewing, troubleshooting, and documenting problem
areas and their resolution.
According to Tew, the benefits of receiving expert training
and switching to ultra-efficient Tier 3 nozzles helped Fayetteville’s
municipal PWC significantly. “With the training and
Tier 3 nozzles, we achieved about a 1-year ROI. We attained
more efficient labor and resource use. This included reduced
fuel use as well as vehicle and crew downtime,” says Tew.
While Tew does not insist that a Tier 3 nozzle is necessary for
every job, he does recommend it as an essential tool for the
municipal sewer crew’s toolbox. He points out that the increased
efficiency of Fayetteville’s municipal PC work crews,
equipped with Tier 3 nozzles and expert training, has made
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| Chief Engineer