About the author: Patrick N. Snyder is vice president of sales and marketing for Hi-Vac Corp. Snyder can be reached at [email protected] or 740.374.2306.
Patrick N. Snyder
undefinedFrank DeCelles is the longtime director of public works for the city of Plantation, Fla. Keeping the streets of Plantation clear of water is a particularly difficult challenge in the swampy regions of Florida. According to DeCelles, having the right task-specific equipment is essential for getting the job done correctly.
After more than two decades of working to keep the streets of Plantation clean, DeCelles is familiar with the obstacles that can get in the way of achieving that goal. “For years we had a street sweeper outfitted with a nozzle that we used as a multipurpose machine,” he said. “In addition to using it for sweeping, we also utilized it for purposes that would be better suited to a jet/vac machine. It did the job to a point, but it was clear that we were not doing the kind of job we needed to do in terms of dealing with various drainage issues we were experiencing.”
As DeCelles was coming to the conclusion that a jet/vac was needed for the job, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) tightened its runoff requirements. “It’s almost to the level of the restrictions associated with drinking water,” he said.
These added requirements made it mandatory for the city of Plantation to begin the process of researching new equipment. DeCelles decided that he would need to purchase a quality jet/vac unit to handle the increasing need for storm water maintenance, drainage and setting drain lines.
Researching the Equipment
“Fortunately I am very active in the APWA [American Public Works Assn.], and at one of the meetings, I asked a lot of my colleagues which equipment they used,” DeCelles said. “I kept hearing the Aquatech name come up as a quality piece of equipment that would last for years. That’s a big factor for us because, like a lot of municipalities, we can’t afford to purchase this kind of equipment very often. So when we do, we have to make the right decision.”
Although the original specification called for a front-reel design, DeCelles still considered the Aquatech, which features a rear-reel design. He was looking for very specific characteristics in his search for the right jet/vac truck.
“After reviewing a number of units out there, we felt that the front-reel design should not be a deciding factor,” DeCelles said.
Three key factors weighed most heavily on the decision-making process: mileage, wear and tear, and longevity. In the end, DeCelles decided to purchase the Aquatech B10 based on these factors.
“Obviously, price is the ultimate deciding factor after the performance parameters are met, and Pat’s Pump out of Orlando gave us a great price and continues to offer great service,” DeCelles said.
Getting the Job Done Right
The new unit has turned out to be a reliable utility player for the city of Plantation. “We use [it] for a variety of tasks, including pulling the grates and cleaning structures, cleaning and jetting lines, and much more,” DeCelles said. “Just like the police and fire departments, we work the city in zones. Our regular schedule calls for servicing a particular zone and then moving on to the next unless an emergency takes us elsewhere.”
The city’s newest equipment addition is intended for just this kind of rigorous schedule. The B10 has a debris body capacity of 10 cu yd, a tandem axle chassis for maximum payload capacity and a short wheelbase for excellent maneuverability. The 180-degree articulating rear-mounted hose offers added safety benefits and provides proper ergonomic position for operation. The rear location assures unobstructed vision for the driver, allows maximum airflow to the chassis engine and provides the quietest workstation available. Fuel consumption is maximized thanks to a single-engine drive design, and the unit is built to last.
