CITY USING DIGITAL IMAGING TECHNOLOGY TO INSPECT WATER & SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE

Crews have not only been busy improving the roadways this construction season; the City is also investing $11.3 million dollars on water and sewer rehabilitation. For the first time, new, state-of-the art digital imaging technology was used to inspect and evaluate manholes during the 2015 summer construction season.

“Through this new method of evaluation using digital imaging, we have been able to exceed our target quantity for manhole inspections this year,” says Celene Anger, Director of Construction and Design. “This method of inspection is not only safer and more efficient, but also results in a higher quality systematic inspection that is cost effective.”

Instead of performing conventional visual inspections, the new digital imaging technology allows manholes to be evaluated by lowering a camera into the area to take several images. The system allows engineers to review images systematically as well as re-inspect files at any time.

Manhole inspection and maintenance help identify deterioration that can lead to collapses and blockages that cause waste water to back up—something that can be more prevalent as a sewer system ages. Cleaning and inspecting sewer lines is essential to maintaining a properly functioning system; this new technology will further Saskatoon’s investment in its wastewater infrastructure.

This season, crews have also been busy lining water and sewer mains at locations across the city, with priority given to those areas with a high break history. This rehabilitation work will help to minimize the potential for future breaks.

"While this maintenance and rehabilitation work to our underground utilities is not as obvious as road improvements, it is critical to providing reliable drinking water and sewer services,” says Anger. “Some of the road restrictions drivers are encountering are required for these types of upgrades.”

This spring and summer, the City has completed the following water and sewer rehabilitation work:

• 13.8 km in 81 locations of water main & sewer lining rehabilitation
• 145 short service connection replacements including 100 lead connections
• 1,024 manhole inspections using the new digital imaging technology

Other water and sewer rehabilitation work involves wetlands construction and the trenchless installation of sanitary force mains. This rehabilitation work is still ongoing as the 2015 construction season continues into the fall.

Slow down, pay attention and respect work zones. Watch for pedestrians and work crews, and for everyone’s safety, please obey all detours, signs and barriers.

Know before you go! Plan your route around road work by checking our Road Restrictions and Construction Projects interactive map. Find traffic detour information on our saskatoon.ca homepage or subscribe to our Traffic Detour Service Alerts. You can also follow us on Twitter @cityofsaskatoon and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.