As the president of the Chesapeake Water Environment Association (CWEA) and a former chair of the Collection System Committee, I have seen these organizations take on the responsibility of providing necessary training to local collection system operators and engineers. For several years, the National Association of Sewer Service Companies (NASSCO) has been providing training programs for the Pipeline Assessment and Certification Program (PACP) that these member associations — part of the Water Environment Federation (WEF) — can use to introduce professionals to pipeline assessment. My goal is to help provide even more training and coordination with these important associations throughout the U.S. and Canada.

This past year, the Infiltration Control Grouting Association (ICGA), a division of NASSCO, developed a standard specification for the use of chemical grout in sanitary sewers, laterals and manholes. The specification, originally drafted by environmental consulting firm Malcolm Pirnie, was reviewed and revised by many dedicated ICGA members. It was also peer reviewed by professionals from the Water Environment Associations of New England, Florida, Kentucky-Tennessee, Virginia, Chesapeake and California. The peer reviews were critical to the development of a quality chemical grouting specification.

The ICGA also developed a white paper to educate utility operators on the appropriate use of chemical grouting in sanitary sewers. This document, titled The Role of Chemical Grouting in Wastewater Systems, will be translated into a training program that can be used by chemical grouting professionals to train operators and engineers throughout the country. The white paper can be found on the ICGA website: www.sewergrouting.com.

The International Pipe Bursting Association (IPBA), another division of NASSCO, recently published the Guideline for Pipe Bursting. This guideline is designed to assist owners, designers and contractors involved in pipeline replacement and/or rehabilitation projects to evaluate the capabilities of pipe bursting as an existing trenchless pipe replacement method.

Another training initiative is the development of NASSCO’s Introduction to Sewer Cleaning with Jetting Equipment, a newly released 55-minute video that provides fundamental information about the safe and efficient use of sewer cleaning equipment. It also provides a basic overview of sewer jetting for beginners and can serve as a reminder of proper and effective practices for more experienced workers.

We are also developing documents and training materials that provide overviews of other rehabilitation and assessment technologies, including CIPP liner installation and inspection and lateral and manhole rehabilitation.

NASSCO would like to work more closely with local WEF member associations and other organizations such as local Rural Water Associations. Our goal is not only to assist with training, but to provide a two-way line of communication between NASSCO and local sewer professionals for feedback concerning programs like PACP and the Inspector Training Certification Program (ITCP), and also to learn how we can better serve the industry.

NASSCO has served the sewer industry for 36 years and continues to move forward with new and exciting initiatives. Over the past year, more than 100 organizations have joined NASSCO to help set industry standards for the assessment and rehabilitation of underground pipelines and assure the continued acceptance and growth of trenchless technologies. If you would like to get involved in the myriad of opportunities that NASSCO offers, please feel free to contact us and discuss how you can participate. F

Ted DeBoda is executive director of NASSCO. He can be reached at director@nassco.org. NASSCO is located at 11521 Cronridge Drive, Suite J, Owings Mills, MD 21117.