As Canada’s infrastructure ages, the odds of municipalities, commercial property owners, and individual homeowners being faced with sewer damage increases. Identifying the true source — and even the precise location — of underground infrastructure problems is challenging without the right technology. Now, methods like closed-circuit television (CCTV) inspections, smoke tests, and precision cleaning are taking the guesswork out of sewer pipe evaluation, leading to a more efficient, longer-lasting, and cost-effective repair process.
CCTV: Comprehensive visual inspection
Closed-circuit television is an invaluable resource in getting up close and personal with the condition of aging infrastructure. There’s no digging, trenching, or invasive action needed to examine the condition of a pipe’s interior. Instead, technicians use existing access points such as service holes, vents, or culverts to feed a scoping camera into the depths of the affected pipes.
As the CCTV line is fed deeper into the pipe system, technicians control the camera from the surface. They use it to get visual confirmation of everything from erosion and calcification to cracks and bellying in pipes. CCTV inspection rigs often come with hydraulic accompaniments, as well, to remove buildups and debris that might block the camera.
In addition to real-time inspection of water utilities, CCTV cameras also record the inspection. This allows technicians to go back and identify variables and circumstances that might impact the repair or rehabilitation approach. As part of pipeline assessment, technicians will consider pipe diameter and other variables that inform the best approach to service damaged pipes.
Smoke testing for identifying cracks and fractures
It can be difficult to know where, exactly, a problem is within a certain section of pipes. Moreover, some cracks and fractures are too minor to see — even with CCTV. Smoke testing is an effective solution to locate these inflow and infiltration points. If liquids can breach piping, so can gas. Smoke testing makes it easier to see damages that might otherwise be overlooked.
The concept is simple. Technicians place non-toxic smoke generators over service holes and blow the smoke through a section of underground pipes. As the smoke fills the main line and branches out to any connections, it will breach any cracks or fractures. As the smoke seeps out through undefined access points, technicians can trace it back to the source.
Smoke testing is a valuable way to assess aging underground utilities. Technicians may believe they know the source of the inflow and infiltration point, but that may not be the only point of damage. Smoke testing reveals all cracks and fractures in a given area to reveal the true condition of water utilities. This can inform the approach — whether that means a simple repair or complete re-lining of a section.
Line cleaning for observation integrity
Before any work is performed, there’s one more important step on the path to quality infrastructure repair: line cleaning. Line cleaning is integral to the efficacy of any repairs, and it’s especially vital to ensure trenchless solutions take hold appropriately.
Line cleaning serves three main purposes.
- It clears away buildups, such as FOG, to make the condition of the pipe clearer.
- It prepares interior pipe surfaces for rehab applications, such as CIPP liners.
- It preserves the integrity of water utilities, regardless of the solution applied.
Pipe cleaning sets the stage for quality results — no matter what comes next. CIPP applications will adhere better. FOG buildups won’t continue to erode pipes. Crack repairs will adhere more effectively. It all adds up to better results — and it all starts with pipe cleaning.
The best execution starts with the right approach
When it comes to addressing sewer pipe problems like obstructions, leaks, poor flow, and collapse, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. By harnessing the latest technologies and deploying them with skill and precision, the experts at Empipe can identify the source of pipe trouble, evaluate the pipe’s condition, and deliver the service necessary to restore the system to order.