Settlement, circumferential and radial cracking, holes, and asphalt separating from around poorly adjusted manhole frames were a way of life in Kelowna, British Columbia. The failures brought inflow and infiltration, and noise complaints from residents tired of hearing ka-lunk as vehicles drove over the manhole covers. If conditions became bad enough, an Infrastructure Planning Department crew patched them; otherwise, maintenance was ignored.Kelly Hanson, utility technologist, was curious about the extent of the problem. His drive-by survey revealed that half the manholes had asphalt failures or the adjustment elevation did not meet tolerance. Further investigation found causes such as chimney deterioration,
