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Cleaning + Get AlertsInfoSense, manufacturer of acoustic technology to assess sewer conditions, received the 2012 Water Environment Foundation (WEF) Innovative Technology award for its Sewer Line Rapid Assessment Tool (SL-RAT). The condition assessment tool for collection system crews provides quick diagnostics of a sewer pipeline segment without the time and expense of a CCTV inspection.
Municipal Sewer & Water editor Luke Laggis caught up with InfoSense COO Alex Churchill earlier this month at WEFTEC where Churchill explained how the SL-RAT works.
According to the WEF website, award criteria require products to “demonstrate an innovative aspect utilizing new ideas” as well as “demonstrate a significant achievement in design, operation, maintenance or process change resulting in demonstrated long-term water-quality improvement.”
The SL-RAT consists of a mobile transmitter and a receiver, which are dropped down a manhole at opposite ends of a sewer line hundreds of feet apart. A low-frequency sonic wave travels down the pipeline, and the resulting acoustic wave pattern is interpreted by computer formulas to indicate the likelihood that the line is fully open or blocked.
The Innovative Technology Awards, which include collection systems, instrumentation, process equipment, and solids handling and disposal categories, are presented annually to WEF associate members who have introduced new innovative products or services related to the construction, operation, or maintenance of treatment facilities.