Sewer testing planned
By Ethan Smith
Published in News on September 30, 2014 1:46 PM
The city of Goldsboro's Public Works Department is buying new equipment to test sewer lines.
The department has budgeted $200,000 to buy new machinery to conduct smoke and dye testing of lines, and to obtain robotic cameras and acoustic soundwave equipment to also help in identifying leaks.
The equipment will help improve the city's sewer system because it will enable the department to identify areas that need work earlier, rather than wait for problems to emerge, Public Works Director Jose Martinez said.
"It was pretty obvious that we needed it," Martinez said. "When I came on board, the department was reactive and would respond when there was a problem. With this new equipment, we'll be able to be more proactive and identify the areas that need the most work before they become an emergency, which, of course, costs more money to fix."
The cameras will be purchased from Redzone Robotics.
The new sewer testing gear is part of a new System Integrity Program implemented by the Public Works Department to improve its ability to ensure sound infrastructure across the city, Martinez said.
Two people are being hired and trained in operating the new equipment. Both will receive certification from the National Association of Sewer System Co. The training will allow the department to "speak the lingo of contractors," Martinez noted.
Interviews were completed last week, but job offers have not yet been extended to any candidates.
"We'll now be able to identify the worst pipes and prioritize the work we need to do and create a 10-year (maintenance and repair) plan, which we currently don't have," Martinez said, adding that the new sewer testing equipment is scheduled to arrive the second week of October.