Our industry moves fast. New equipment hits the market, crews adapt to changing regulations and infrastructure demands, and municipalities continue searching for smarter ways to maintain critical sewer, water and stormwater systems. To help readers stay caught up, we’re rounding up some of the most-read stories from October at Municipal Sewer & Water.
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5. Resetting the Sewer Maintenance Schedule
Relying on inherited, calendar-based sewer jetting schedules can cause municipal utilities to over-clean healthy lines, wasting limited crew hours. By installing non-contact radar sensors to continuously monitor liquid levels in high-maintenance assets, one Washington city successfully replaced its guesswork with data, safely extending cleaning intervals from monthly to annually without triggering blockages.
4. 5 Tips to Get Your Foot in the Door at Your Local Water Utility
While municipal public works departments offer rock-solid career stability and stellar benefits, breaking into the water and wastewater industry requires applicants to strategically differentiate themselves from the standard hiring pool. Prospective operators can drastically increase their chances of landing an entry-level position by securing a Commercial Driver's License up front, obtaining basic safety certifications like OSHA 10, and networking at local utility association chapter meetings.
3. 90-Year-Old Lovell Clay Works Pipes Found Intact in National Parks
Contractors upgrading underground infrastructure in Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks recently unearthed fully functional, vitrified clay sewer pipes manufactured over seventy years ago by a historic Wyoming factory.
2. Burst Pipe at Phoenix Raceway Douses Bleachers in Wastewater
In this News Briefs post, we highlighted how a major plumbing failure above the grandstands at Phoenix International Raceway showered NASCAR spectators with raw wastewater and toilet paper, forcing an immediate evacuation of the surrounding seating sections.
1. Cyberattacks Hit Two New Jersey Municipal Water Utilities
Following the alarming trend of cyberattacks targeting critical municipal infrastructure nationwide, hackers recently disabled the automated management platforms at two New Jersey drinking water facilities by exploiting internet-exposed control systems.
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