Manholes

Although many techniques are used to inspect the conditions inside a sewer pipe, much can be learned from a good old-fashioned trip inside a manhole! The manhole is visually inspected for signs of deterioration, leakage and many other 'clues' that all may not be well within the sewer pipe. When possible, the sewer pipes entering and exiting the manhole are visually inspected as well.

(In this graphic, a field technician enters a manhole attached to a winch which can pull him to safety in the event of danger)

Clearly, when a sewer line is only 8 inches in diameter, this is not always vpipetv.jpg (28924 bytes)

feasible! But Manholes are one feature of the Sanitary Sewer System than can be visually inspected. Since we have found that 50% or more of inflow enters into municipal sewer systems through manhole structures, we typically begin there.

(The graphic at right displays a TV image of the inside of a sewer pipe, showing badly cracked and broken pipe)

Due to potential dangers from explosive and toxic gasses, our trained inspection teams follow OSHA regulations on confined space entry.

- Š2000 Wade & Associates, Inc.-