Wisconsin Water Recycling System Delivers Productivity Gains, Cost Savings

Inflow and infiltration flows negatively impact public health and the environment and result in higher wastewater treatment costs. Great Lakes TV Seal Inc. inspects, cleans and repairs underground pipelines for municipalities, paper mills, landfills and other industrial applications in Wisconsin and the upper peninsula of Michigan. When it comes to no-dig pipeline repair and rehabilitation work, the Green Bay, Wis.-based company is committed to getting the job done quickly and efficiently.

Great Lakes TV Seal uses a Vactor 2100 Plus sewer cleaner equipped with a water recycling system on inflow and infiltration control projects to help clean pipes in preparation for TV inspection and rehabilitation work. Co-owner Brett Healy said the company operates the sewer cleaner at full capacity year-round.

“For inflow and infiltration, the Vactor water recycling system is a helpful tool for prepping the pipe,” Healy said. “The ultimate advantages of the system for us are water conservation and productivity.”

Available as an option, the water recycling system for the combination sewer cleaner reuses water already in the sewer to clean sewer lines to help fight inflow and infiltration and prevent overflows, providing the potential to eliminate the need for clean water and saving thousands of gallons of clean water during every shift.

Healy said the water recycling system also delivers ample jetting power needed to clear and maintain lines, and clear obstructions in the line, such as roots, grease and other debris.

The water recycling system can increase operator productivity by up to 100%, enabling operators to clean twice the number of lines. This productivity gain is the result of eliminating time spent refilling the water tank, including the time spent breaking down the job site and driving to a hydrant or water filling facility to refill the tank.

“Because we no longer need to stop work to go fetch water to refill the water tank on the sewer cleaner, we save anywhere from three to five hours a day on the job,” Healy said. “In some remote areas where we work, we can be a good 30 to 45 minutes away from the nearest source of water.”

Communities protect people and the environment through maintenance of their sewer systems to prevent overflows, thereby avoiding the potential health risks and financial penalties associated with those overflows. Healy said the ability to recycle the water used for sewer cleaning maximizes existing resources and reduces operating costs.

Performing routine inspection and cleaning is the best way to keep a sewer or storm system working properly. For the team at Great Lakes TV Seal, the Vactor 2100 Plus sewer cleaner equipped with the water recycling system results in a sustainable, productive and economical inflow and infiltration prevention program.