september 2015

FOR SANITARY, STORM AND WATER SYSTEM MAINTENANCE PROFESSIONALS

September 2015 www.mswmag.com

SEWER: MISHAWAKA REDUCES CSOs AND PROTECTS

IMPORTANT WATERWAYPAGE 14

THE HUMAN SIDE: INSPIRE EMPLOYEES TO BE THEIR BEST

PAGE 22

BETTER MOUSETRAPS: SCREEN SYSTEM IMPROVES LIFT STATION EFFICIENCY

PAGE 38

Hamilton, Ontario, is preparing for growth with a massive trunk line running 5 miles in length and as deep as 300 feet underground

PAGE 26

BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE

Susan Jacob, design manager for the City of Hamiltons Engineering Services Division, Hamilton, Ontario.

BUYERSGUIDE

PAGE 60

2015-2016

A proud member of the Federal Signal Family.Based on Vactor Customer Research. 2014 Federal Signal Corporation

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4 September 2015 mswmag.com

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42

14

3438

ON THE COVER: Susan Jacob, design manager for the City of Hamiltons Engineering Services Division, stands at the massive drop shaft under construction as part of the Centennial Sewer Project in Hamilton, Ontario. (Photography by Bruce Bell)

SEPTEMBER 2015

COMING IN OCTOBER 2015

Product Focus: Flow Control & MonitoringF OPERATOR: Thomas Nigh, Roseburg, OregonF HUMAN SIDE: Build your critical thinking skills F TECH TALK: Mobile technology for data management

26

FEATURES 14 SEWER: Getting on the Grid

Mishawaka reduces CSOs and protects a valuable waterway by taking a new approach to cleaning and maintenance. By Jim Force

26 SEWER /WATER: Building for the Future Hamilton, Ontario, is preparing for growth with a massive trunk line running 5 miles in length and as deep as 300 feet underground. By Peter Kenter

42 WATER: Snowmass Effect Pairing a motivated team with aggressive conservation, inspection and pipe maintenance keeps Colorado utility operating at peak efficiency. By Peter Kenter

COLUMNS 8 FROM THE EDITOR: We All Need Water

Regardless of where you live or how much money you have, we all depend on the same vital resources. By Luke Laggis

10 @mswmag.com Visit daily for news, features and blogs. Get the most from Municipal Sewer & Water magazine.

22 HUMAN SIDE: Get In Their Heads Inspire employees to work harder, increase productivity and stay on board longer with these helpful strategies. By Ken Wysocky

34 WWETT SPOTLIGHT: Reinstatement Made Simple Robotic Trydent 80 pipe cutter easily opens laterals in small-diameter piping. By Craig Mandli

38 BETTER MOUSETRAPS: Above the Bar Screening equipment designed for narrow, deep vaults increases efficiency for Arizona wastewater utility. By Scottie Dayton

50 WEFTEC Product Preview 58 NASSCO CORNER: Cooperation and

Mutual Support Benefit Industry NASSCOs association with the Water Environment Federation and Chesapeake Water Environment Association flourishes. By Ted DeBoda, P.E.

60 2015-2016 Annual Buyers Guide 112 PRODUCT FOCUS: Stormwater Management,

Inflow and Infiltration Prevention By Craig Mandli

116 CASE STUDIES: Stormwater Management, Inflow and Infiltration Prevention By Craig Mandli

120 PRODUCT NEWS Product Spotlight: Frame-mounted vacuum excavator adds payload flexibility, urban maneuverability. By Ed Wodalski

122 INDUSTRY NEWS 128 WORTH NOTING

People/Awards; Learning Opportunities; Calendar

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1-727-507-9749 International 1-866-336-2568 Toll Free

www.perma-liner.com

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6" to 120" Diameter CIPP Liners Training Provided By Experienced

Certi ed Technicians Marketing Support

Lead Referrals Technical Support

NEW Top Gun Equipment Rental Program

Market Competitive Pricing Delivery Service Available

REFRIGERATION TRUCKS AVAILABLE SMALL & LARGE MATERIAL ORDERS QUOTED COMPETITIVELY UPC LISTING (UNIFORM PLUMBING CODE) ICC-ES PMG LISTING IRC LISTING (INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTIAL CODE) IPC LISTING (INTERNATIONAL PLUMBING CODE) IAPMO CLASSIFIED MARKING NSF / ANSI STANDARD 14 CERTIFICATION AND QUALITY

ASSURANCE PROGRAM

Announcing the exclusive partnership for North America,

featuring local distribution facilities for the Perma-Main CIPP lining material to better

support our Certi ed Installers.

LIVE DEMONSTRATIONS:September 15th - 17th FLORIDA September 23rd CHICAGO

(PATENT PENDING)

INSIDE :ANNUAL BUYERS GUIDE/ STORMWATER MANAGEMENT, INFLOW & INFILTRATION PREVENTION

42

14

3438

ON THE COVER: Susan Jacob, design manager for the City of Hamiltons Engineering Services Division, stands at the massive drop shaft under construction as part of the Centennial Sewer Project in Hamilton, Ontario. (Photography by Bruce Bell)

SEPTEMBER 2015

COMING IN OCTOBER 2015

Product Focus: Flow Control & MonitoringF OPERATOR: Thomas Nigh, Roseburg, OregonF HUMAN SIDE: Build your critical thinking skills F TECH TALK: Mobile technology for data management

26

FEATURES 14 SEWER: Getting on the Grid

Mishawaka reduces CSOs and protects a valuable waterway by taking a new approach to cleaning and maintenance. By Jim Force

26 SEWER /WATER: Building for the Future Hamilton, Ontario, is preparing for growth with a massive trunk line running 5 miles in length and as deep as 300 feet underground. By Peter Kenter

42 WATER: Snowmass Effect Pairing a motivated team with aggressive conservation, inspection and pipe maintenance keeps Colorado utility operating at peak efficiency. By Peter Kenter

COLUMNS 8 FROM THE EDITOR: We All Need Water

Regardless of where you live or how much money you have, we all depend on the same vital resources. By Luke Laggis

10 @mswmag.com Visit daily for news, features and blogs. Get the most from Municipal Sewer & Water magazine.

22 HUMAN SIDE: Get In Their Heads Inspire employees to work harder, increase productivity and stay on board longer with these helpful strategies. By Ken Wysocky

34 WWETT SPOTLIGHT: Reinstatement Made Simple Robotic Trydent 80 pipe cutter easily opens laterals in small-diameter piping. By Craig Mandli

38 BETTER MOUSETRAPS: Above the Bar Screening equipment designed for narrow, deep vaults increases efficiency for Arizona wastewater utility. By Scottie Dayton

50 WEFTEC Product Preview 58 NASSCO CORNER: Cooperation and

Mutual Support Benefit Industry NASSCOs association with the Water Environment Federation and Chesapeake Water Environment Association flourishes. By Ted DeBoda, P.E.

60 2015-2016 Annual Buyers Guide 112 PRODUCT FOCUS: Stormwater Management,

Inflow and Infiltration Prevention By Craig Mandli

116 CASE STUDIES: Stormwater Management, Inflow and Infiltration Prevention By Craig Mandli

120 PRODUCT NEWS Product Spotlight: Frame-mounted vacuum excavator adds payload flexibility, urban maneuverability. By Ed Wodalski

122 INDUSTRY NEWS 128 WORTH NOTING

People/Awards; Learning Opportunities; Calendar


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3T Equipment Company Inc. ...........................................129ADS LLC ..............................................................................101Advanced Aquatic Products International, Inc. .............91Agru America, Inc. ................................................................95

American Highway Products, Ltd. .................................85American Shoring, Inc. .........................................................27

AMT Pump Company .........................................................56AP/M Permaform ...................................................................73Applied Felts, Inc. .................................................................... 7

Aries Industries, Inc. ......................................................... 41Avanti International .............................................................35Best Management Products, Inc. .......................................93

Cam Spray ...........................................................................109

Central Oklahoma Winnelson .......................................20

Chempace Corporation .................................................107Chempure Products Corp. ..............................................115

Cobra Technologies .......................................................... 48Cretex Specialty Products ................................................32

CUES ..................................................................................... 119

Dukes Root Control, Inc. ................................................ 15

Eaton Vehicle Group ...........................................................39Efficiency Production, Inc. .............................................107EJ ................................................................................................54

Envirosight ............................................................................... 2

Enz USA, Inc. ........................................................................ 69

Exact Pipe Tools, Inc. ......................................................... 57Famhost Integrated Business Apps ...............................111Ferguson Enterprises .......................................................... 17FlowMark Vacuum Trucks ...............................................129FlowWorks Inc. .................................................................105Forbest Products Co. ........................................................87Foremost................................................................................. 21

GapVax, Inc. ........................................................................ 131

General Pipe Cleaners ....................................................... 37Greyline Instruments .......................................................... 91

HammerHead Trenchless Equipment............................47

Hi-Vac Corporation ............................................................25Hurco Technologies, Inc. .....................................................40

Innovating Acoustic Inspection TechnologyTMInfoSense, Inc

InfoSense, Inc. ......................................................................99Infrastructure Repair Systems, Inc. ..................................97Inliner Technologies ...............................................................31IPEX Management Inc. ........................................................29JWC Environmental ..............................................................71Komline-Sanderson ...............................................................56Krausz USA .............................................................................45LADTECH, Inc. ...................................................................115Lee Supply Company ............................................................12LMK Technologies..................................................................55

McGard LLC ...........................................................................67Mr. Manhole...........................................................................111

MyTana Mfg. Company, Inc. .............................................75

NozzTeq, Inc. ....................................................................123

Perma-Liner Industries, LLC ............................................. 5Petersen Products Co. ......................................................118

Petrofield Industries ............................................................65

Pipeline Analytics ................................................................63

PipeLogix, Inc. ...................................................................... 24

Premier ....................................................................................36PRIMEX ..............................................................................111ProComSol, Ltd....................................................................103

R.S. Technical Services, Inc. ........................................... 19

RapidView IBAK North America .................................. 13Red Valve Co. / Tideflex Technologies ...............................23Reed Manufacturing Co. ...................................................105RELINER/Duran Inc. ............................................................40Ring-O-Matic, Inc. ...............................................................123

RootX ....................................................................................... 9SAERTEX-multiCom ............................................................79Sauereisen, Inc. ....................................................................103Sealing Systems, Inc. ...........................................................109Singer Valve Inc. .....................................................................89

Sonetics ..................................................................................77Specialty Maintenance Products, Inc. ...............................93Sto-Away Power Cranes, Inc. ..........................................118Strike Products .......................................................................36

SubSurface Locators, Inc. ...................................................... 8

T&T Tools, Inc. ...................................................................101t4 Spatial ................................................................................129 The Strong Company, Inc. ..................................................43 Thompson Pipe Group ........................................................59 Total Piping Solutions, Inc. ..................................................32

Ultra Shore ...........................................................................89

United Rentals - Trench Safety ........................................ 11

USB - Sewer Equipment Corporation ............................83

Vac-Con, Inc. ......................................................................132 Vacall - Gradall Industries....................................................49

Vactor Manufacturing ....................................................3, 12Vanair Manufacturing, Inc. ...................................................20 Vanguard Pathogen Defense Systems .............................24 Vaporooter ............................................................................33

VARCo ..................................................................................130Vivax-Metrotech Corp. .......................................................81

CLASSIFIEDS ....................................................................128MARKETPLACE ................................................................124

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WE ALL NEED WATERRegardless of where you live or how much money you have, we all depend on the same vital resources

Does Tom Selleck deserve more water than you? Are his avocados more deserving of this precious resource than your houseplants? Or your kids? Mr. Selleck must have thought so. The Calleguas Municipal Water Dis-

trict in Ventura County, California, filed a lawsuit against him on June 30 for allegedly repeatedly having a tanker truck fill up at a public hydrant and deliver the water to his ranch.

The area in Ventura County where Sellecks ranch is located is under mandatory cutbacks as high as 36 percent from 2013. According to local news reports, the district claims it sent Selleck cease-and-desist letters aimed at halting the unlawful water deliveries, but the truck was spotted as recently as March filling up at the hydrant and delivering water to the ranch.

If youre not from the American West, if can be difficult to understand

the battles that are fought over water rights. People dont typically have to worry about an adequate supply of water in states like Wisconsin and Ver-mont. Farmers get what they need, and so does everyone else from city residents to industrial plants. Anyone who buys land can drill a well, sim-ple as that.

Its a different story for those living in places like Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, and especially, California. The fight for water is turning ugly. Amer-icans are used to getting all the water and anything else they want, but eventually and inevitably, some resources simply run dry.

In Rancho Santa Fe, a wealthy community in Southern California, water use has risen substantially since the new restrictions went into effect. The community has given a collective, well-hydrated middle finger to everyone else in the state.

In a Washington Post story detailing the battle, local resident Steve Yuhas is quoted as saying, We pay significant property taxes based on where we live. And, no, were not all equal when it comes to water. Yuhas took to social media to proclaim people should not be forced to live on property with brown lawns, golf on brown courses or apologize for wanting their gar-dens to be beautiful. Forced to live on property with brown lawns? Are you kidding me?

Aside from how disgusting that sounds in terms of wealth and entitle-ment, it points to a much bigger issue: the fair use and distribution of a resource we all need to survive. Water equals life, and a billionaire doesnt have any more right to life than you or me.

North of Rancho Santa Fe, in Mountain House, California, the local water utility recently inked a deal that guarantees a modest supply of water through the end of 2015. Yes, 2015. This community could completely cease to exist because the water supply has run dry, while Mr. Yuhas does his damnedest to stay out of his own brown grass hell and Magnum P.I. steals water by the truckload (allegedly) for his precious avocados. I love avoca-dos, especially with a dash of salt and squeeze of lime, but how does a small green fruit become more important than an entire state and all its people?

No one values water until they dont have enough. The number of peo-ple in that camp is growing rapidly. Maybe this is an opportunity for water utilities across the country to redefine the value of water, the value of their work and the importance of conservation.

If not, the wet will get wetter while the dry turn to dust.

Lets find a better way.

Enjoy this months issue. F

FROM THE EDITORLuke Laggis

Comments on this column or about any article in this publication may be directed to editor Luke Laggis, 800/257-7222; [email protected].

Booth 1822

Introducing the newest weapon in the war on roots.

www.rootx.com

To nd out how you can put the FDU 300 into your root control arsenal, visit www.RootX.com, or talk to your RootX representative at 1-800-844-4974.

THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING.Once again, RootX has changed the game of root control. Introducing the FDU 300 applicator better in every way and engineered to make applying RootX to mainlines faster, easier, and more effective than ever. It works with your existing jetter equipment, so there is no expensive equipment to buy, no costly upgrades, and no waiting to get on a contractors schedule.

Within a month after applying RootX, roots are dead and decaying keeping your lines flowing for up to 36 months. Guaranteed.*

Now, more than ever, RootX is the Right Solution. Right Now.

*visit www.rootx.com/municipalities/guarantee for details.

www.rootx.com

Rootx_FDU300_P4C_Cole.indd 1 3/4/15 11:18 AM

Booth 1617

WE ALL NEED WATERRegardless of where you live or how much money you have, we all depend on the same vital resources

Does Tom Selleck deserve more water than you? Are his avocados more deserving of this precious resource than your houseplants? Or your kids? Mr. Selleck must have thought so. The Calleguas Municipal Water Dis-

trict in Ventura County, California, filed a lawsuit against him on June 30 for allegedly repeatedly having a tanker truck fill up at a public hydrant and deliver the water to his ranch.

The area in Ventura County where Sellecks ranch is located is under mandatory cutbacks as high as 36 percent from 2013. According to local news reports, the district claims it sent Selleck cease-and-desist letters aimed at halting the unlawful water deliveries, but the truck was spotted as recently as March filling up at the hydrant and delivering water to the ranch.

If youre not from the American West, if can be difficult to understand

the battles that are fought over water rights. People dont typically have to worry about an adequate supply of water in states like Wisconsin and Ver-mont. Farmers get what they need, and so does everyone else from city residents to industrial plants. Anyone who buys land can drill a well, sim-ple as that.

Its a different story for those living in places like Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, and especially, California. The fight for water is turning ugly. Amer-icans are used to getting all the water and anything else they want, but eventually and inevitably, some resources simply run dry.

In Rancho Santa Fe, a wealthy community in Southern California, water use has risen substantially since the new restrictions went into effect. The community has given a collective, well-hydrated middle finger to everyone else in the state.

In a Washington Post story detailing the battle, local resident Steve Yuhas is quoted as saying, We pay significant property taxes based on where we live. And, no, were not all equal when it comes to water. Yuhas took to social media to proclaim people should not be forced to live on property with brown lawns, golf on brown courses or apologize for wanting their gar-dens to be beautiful. Forced to live on property with brown lawns? Are you kidding me?

Aside from how disgusting that sounds in terms of wealth and entitle-ment, it points to a much bigger issue: the fair use and distribution of a resource we all need to survive. Water equals life, and a billionaire doesnt have any more right to life than you or me.

North of Rancho Santa Fe, in Mountain House, California, the local water utility recently inked a deal that guarantees a modest supply of water through the end of 2015. Yes, 2015. This community could completely cease to exist because the water supply has run dry, while Mr. Yuhas does his damnedest to stay out of his own brown grass hell and Magnum P.I. steals water by the truckload (allegedly) for his precious avocados. I love avoca-dos, especially with a dash of salt and squeeze of lime, but how does a small green fruit become more important than an entire state and all its people?

No one values water until they dont have enough. The number of peo-ple in that camp is growing rapidly. Maybe this is an opportunity for water utilities across the country to redefine the value of water, the value of their work and the importance of conservation.

If not, the wet will get wetter while the dry turn to dust.

Lets find a better way.

Enjoy this months issue. F

FROM THE EDITORLuke Laggis

Comments on this column or about any article in this publication may be directed to editor Luke Laggis, 800/257-7222; [email protected].

Introducing the newest weapon in the war on roots.

www.rootx.com

To nd out how you can put the FDU 300 into your root control arsenal, visit www.RootX.com, or talk to your RootX representative at 1-800-844-4974.

THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING.Once again, RootX has changed the game of root control. Introducing the FDU 300 applicator better in every way and engineered to make applying RootX to mainlines faster, easier, and more effective than ever. It works with your existing jetter equipment, so there is no expensive equipment to buy, no costly upgrades, and no waiting to get on a contractors schedule.

Within a month after applying RootX, roots are dead and decaying keeping your lines flowing for up to 36 months. Guaranteed.*

Now, more than ever, RootX is the Right Solution. Right Now.

*visit www.rootx.com/municipalities/guarantee for details.

www.rootx.com

Rootx_FDU300_P4C_Cole.indd 1 3/4/15 11:18 AM

Booth 1617


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TH INK TANK

Old Water Meters Met With CreativityInstead of meeting the fate of the scrap pile, Chari-ton Waterworks Superintendent Duane Covington decided that old water meters being replaced in this Iowa community deserved a second life. For example: Gut a meters components, add a glass front, run an aerator through the back, and you have a fish tank. Repurposing ideas continue to be mulled over at the utility, while others have come to fruition and are currently on display at the main office. mswmag.com/featured

HANDS- ON

Students Provide Stormwater ExpertiseEvery community is dealing with stormwater management and cash-strapped budgets. As he develops a strategy for Decorah, Iowa, City Manager Chad Bird has been getting research assistance from local college students, a rela-tionship that has had mutual benefit. Culverts were these students classrooms, and improv-ing the citys water quality was the test. mswmag.com/featured

BUSTED

Drug Smugglers Destroy Sewer LineA CCTV inspection confirmed what officials in Nogales, Ari-zona, had suspected bundles of marijuana being smug-gled from Mexico had blocked the International Outflow Interceptor causing a major sewer backup. Learn how emer-gency crews responded, what they discovered at the scene, and the expected cost to taxpayers. mswmag.com/featured 2015 United Rentals, Inc.

From safety/operator training and equipment management technologies to custom solutions engineered to meet specialized job requirements,

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GETTING ON THE GRIDMishawaka reduces CSOs and protects a valuable waterway by taking a new approach to cleaning and maintenanceBy Jim Force

Like the basketball teams its state is known for, Mishawaka, Indi-ana, has changed up its defenses against combined sewer overflows.

Instead of the old grid-mapping system the Department of Sewer Maintenance previously used to clean sewers neighborhood by neighbor-hood, the city is now using subsys-tems, cleaning all sewers that flow to a specific lift station, then moving on to the next lift station network.

Its like switching from zone to man-to-man defense.

Department Manager Tom Dolly recalls when he started with the

department in 2004. We had a cam-era truck and two cleaning trucks. Our job was to respond to calls. There would be a backup, and we would go out and clean and jet the line, point A to point B, and then make sure we could run the camera through it.

Its different today. Under orders to reduce CSOs to area streams and the St. Joseph River a prime salmon and trout fishery Misha-waka is attacking the problem on several fronts and making progress. On a recent weekend when com-munities in our area were hit by

severe rainstorms and reported wide-spread flooding, we didnt have a single emergency call, Dolly says.

The sewer systemMishawaka has 19 CSO structures

along its 212-mile sewer system. Fifty-eight miles or 27 percent of the system consist of combined san-itary and storm sewers. To clean and maintain the lines, Dollys team uses two combination trucks one Vac-tor and one Aquatech along with three CUES lateral launch cameras and three push cameras. A Granite XP sewer inspection software pack-

age ties everything together.We added the Aquatech truck in

2011 and a new Vactor this year, says Justin Leslie, the department assistant manager. Each truck has its own pur-pose and many times can get to spots the other truck cant get to.

The battery of cameras includes three CUES OZIII camera heads with two Compact Pipe Ranger Trans-porter systems, which can deal with lines from 6 inches to 24 inches in diameter. The collection also fea-tures a stormwater Mudmaster trans-porter that uses the OZIII camera head that can run pipes from 24 to

FOCUS: SEWER

Mishawaka Sewer Department Manager Tom Dolly stands by while Gary Isle (center) and John Francis clean a sewer main with a Vactor 2100 Plus. (Photography by Amy Voigt)

(continued)


The water meter technology race is on. Ferguson Waterworks is out in front.

With advanced metering technology, your business can be more effi cient, more profi table and more service oriented than ever before.

Automated Meter Reading (AMR) and Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) are more than industry buzzwords they provide a steady fl ow of valuable data to achieve your business goals, and provide consumers critical understanding of their own usage habits. The result is better business and improved stewardship of our water resources.

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60 inches in diameter. The depart-ment has three push cameras, includ-ing a fixed head CUES and two cameras from Envirosight. The CUES fixed head is fully compatible with the Granite software package.

The department values the equipment redundancy. Were never down, Dolly says of the assets on hand. We always have something available; the equipment gets jostled around, hitting roots, making turns, but were never out of business.

Twenty-nine remote lift stations feed wastewater and stormwater to the citys wastewater treatment plant, originally constructed in 1952 and expanded in 1999 and 2008. The plant is an activated sludge facility with single-stage nitrification and chemical phosphorus removal. Aver-age dry weather design flow is 20 mgd, with a peak flow of 42 mgd and wet weather capacity of 60 mgd. The plant discharges to the St.Joseph River.

Cleaning upShortly after Dollys arrival, the

Sewer Maintenance Department began cleaning its system in a more organized fashion dividing the 17.8-square-mile service area into a series of 28 box-shaped grids. Using the two combination trucks and the array of cameras, crews would clean and inspect the lines in one grid and then move on to the next.

It worked pretty well, Dolly says. We were able to cover the

entire city in about three years, and we were getting the system about 97 to 98 percent clean.

Then Bill Moody, the depart-ments GIS coordinator, came up with a better idea. One of the prob-lems, recalls Leslie, was that we would clean a portion of a line but not the entire line, and we might end up just blowing debris from one section into another. We might leave a line half clean and not get back to it for a year or more.

So Bill developed a specific subsystem layer using the GIS pro-

gram that mapped our system by sections served for our 29 different lift stations.

Moody recalls staring at the GIS maps and noting that lines in a par-ticular grid sometimes ran in oppo-site directions, not even to the same lift station. We rearranged the grids so they reflected what the sewers were actually doing in the ground, he says. We developed a different color for each group. Now we can clean the whole system from top to bot-tom, no backtracking or going back into lines weve already cleaned.

On a recent weekend when communities in our area were hit by severe rainstorms and reported widespread

flooding, we didnt have a single emergency call. Tom Dolly

Above: Mishawaka Sewer Department Manager Tom Dolly (left) explains an issue concern-ing customer Elsa Casaults house and the sewer system. Right: Advanced operator Justin Leslie uses a remote control to operate a CUES Compact Pipe Ranger with an OZIII camera head during a sewer main inspection. Bottom: Matt Hazinski clears material around a damaged pipe to make repairs.

PROFILE:Mishawaka, Indiana, Department of Sewer Maintenance

FOUNDED:Some sewers in Mishawaka date to the early 1900s; Mishawaka Wastewater Treatment Plant started operation in 1952POPULATION SERVED:50,000AREA SERVED: 17.8 square miles / 11,400 acresINFRASTRUCTURE: 212 miles of sanitary and combined sewers; 4,845 sanitary and combined manholes; 2,895 private and public hydrants; 19 CSO structures; 29 remote lift stations; 20 mgd wastewater treatment plantSTAFF:Tom Dolly, manager; Justin Leslie, assistant manager; Bill Moody, GIS coordinator; 12 union personnelANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET:$2.5 millionWEBSITE: mishawaka.in.gov (continued)


08. The expansions have increased flow from the original 8 mgd (peak of 12 mgd) to the current capacity of 20 mgd (peak 42 mgd), with a wet weather capacity of 60 mgd.

The first expansion reduced our overflows from 300 million gallons a year to 230 million gallons, Kopec says. The more recent capacity addition has reduced CSOs even further to around 50 million gallons a year.

A unique step flow design helps the plant han-dle high flows. As Kopec explains it, the activated sludge system contains a series of gates and con-crete baffles. When wet weather flows hit the plant, the primary effluent is introduced to the system at one of the downstream gates, while the return goes to the head of the system. Solids are sequestered behind the baffle wall. The process allows us to hold solids and reduce solids loadings on our clar-ifiers, Kopec says. Its a fairly inexpensive change, and its helped our plant perform extremely well during wet weather.

An underground storage and conveyance tun-nel, ending at the plant and extending some 6,000 feet to the east, will provide additional storm flow control. Kopec says designs are being reviewed this summer, with construction scheduled to start in 2017.

It all adds up to a winning game plan for Mish-awaka as it takes on CSOs.

Our combined effort with the patrols, flow monitoring and just doing such a better job main-taining our sewer lines were seeing fewer back-ups and less CSO discharges to the river, Dolly says.

Adds Kopec, Using 1990 as a baseline, weve reduced CSOs by 86 percent. Our consent decree calls for zero overflows in a typical year. Im abso-lutely certain we can make that goal. F

INSURANCE AGAINST LATERAL CATASTROPHES

Its not uncommon for residents to have to cough up a large amount of money to pay for repairs to sewer lines running from their property to the street. Often, they think the sewer utility is responsible for the lateral, only to discover that the bill is theirs to pay.

In Mishawaka, Indiana, however, residents are protected against catastrophic sewer repair costs through an innovative insurance program.

As part of their regular sewer bill, homeowners pay $1.50 a month

into a sewer insurance fund. The fund pays all costs in excess of $250 that are directly attributable to the repair of a private sewer lateral connection between the foundation wall of the home and the citys trunk sewer line. The fund also covers all costs associated with the removal and replace-ment of public streets, curbs and sidewalks as a result of the repair. If the situation simply requires routine cleaning or maintenance, the homeowner is responsible for that cost.

Tom Dolly, manager of Mishawaka Department of Sewer Maintenance, reports that in 2014 there were 43 calls from residents concerning sewer lateral issues. A little more than half of those incidents qualified for repair under the insurance program. Total payout from the insurance fund was just over $180,000 or about $7,800 per project.

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Envirosight866/936-8476www.envirosight.com(See ad page 2)

Vactor Manufacturing800/627-3171www.vactor.com(See ad page 3)

The new approach enables the crews to completely clean an entire subsystem feeding one lift station. Weve only been using the new sys-tem for a few months, but we think it will leave our sewer lines even cleaner and reduce the chance of overflows into the river, Dolly says. Weve cut down on CSOs using the grid system, and we expect the new approach will be even more effec-tive. In fact, were already experi-encing fewer calls.

How they workDollys 12-man crew is out daily,

using both trucks and two cameras, knocking down as much footage as we can, he says. We do a lot of inlet and catch basin cleaning, clean-

ing off the top, popping the lid and cleaning them out. We patrol up and down, looking at our inlets. They clog with tree buds in spring and a lot of leaves in the fall. The combi-nation truck flushes them out.

The GIS maps created by Moody also help the maintenance crews spot trouble areas mainly around res-taurants and fast food establishments. We have special markers for these areas in the map and certain man-holes are checked monthly, Dolly says. Some are bad enough they need to be vacuumed out every month.

We do small repairs ourselves, and for larger projects we can go to the Board of Public Works and Safety for competitive bids, he explains.

Computers especially GIS have made the difference in the effectiveness of Dollys team.

This department didnt have a GIS, Dolly recalls. We were using auto cad drawings, and everything was in the wrong place, lines flow-ing in the wrong direction.

With GIS, all our flows are in the right direction and pipes are the right size. We are always checking the system found in the field against historic records from which the GIS sewer base map was created. We are very close to completing the verifi-cation of GIS for the sanitary sys-tem, and about 50 percent on the storm system, he reports. We can get into the truck, look at the com-

puter map and select the line were going to run. It saves time.

Plus, he says, when the trucks return, the data can be put into the system and he can look at everything thats been uploaded, view log reports and watch the videos. Our inlet patrols scan everything digi-tally and make that information accessible on the network.

When we do get a call about a backup in a basement, we can look back and see exactly when and where our crews have been.

If a homeowner calls about a problem, well go out with our TV unit and a push camera and evalu-ate the situation for free. They dont need to call a plumber. We can see the blockage. Then well come back with the camera and show the video to the resident. It makes the con-tractor more accountable.

Other measuresImproving the efficiency of the

sewer system is just one of the strat-egies Mishawaka is using to reduce CSOs and comply with its consent decree mandates. Other measures include improvements at the treat-ment plant itself, separation of sew-ers and removal of sewer bottle- necks, constructing parallel inter-ceptor sewers, expanding river crossings, and plans for a large stormwater storage and conveyance tunnel. Also, extensive CIPP lin-ing of formerly combined sewers has significantly reduced I&I, pro-viding more capacity at the WWTP for wet weather treatment.

Karl Kopec, wastewater division manager, explains that the plant has been expanded twice since its ini-tial operation in 1999 and 2004-

PROTECTING THE ST. JOSEPH RIVER

The St. Joseph (St. Joe) River winds through northern Indiana and southern Michigan farmlands for 206 miles before entering Lake Michigan.

Protecting its water quality from sewer overflows and other forms of pollution is a key to the regions economy, because the river supports an active salmon and trout sport fishery.

The river was stocked with game fish in 1969, and over the years fish ladders have been installed at dams along the river, allowing the fish to migrate upstream to spawning areas. The fish ladder at Mishawaka was completed in 1991 and includes a viewing port where fish can be seen and counted moving upriver.

The St. Joe River Fishery project is one of only a handful of interstate fishery projects in the United States. Economic impact to Mishawaka and other river communities is estimated to be in the millions of dollars annually.

Gary Isle operates the controls on the Vactor 2100 Plus during a cleaning operation while John Francis and Tom Dolly look on.

mswmag.com September 2015 19

08. The expansions have increased flow from the original 8 mgd (peak of 12 mgd) to the current capacity of 20 mgd (peak 42 mgd), with a wet weather capacity of 60 mgd.

The first expansion reduced our overflows from 300 million gallons a year to 230 million gallons, Kopec says. The more recent capacity addition has reduced CSOs even further to around 50 million gallons a year.

A unique step flow design helps the plant han-dle high flows. As Kopec explains it, the activated sludge system contains a series of gates and con-crete baffles. When wet weather flows hit the plant, the primary effluent is introduced to the system at one of the downstream gates, while the return goes to the head of the system. Solids are sequestered behind the baffle wall. The process allows us to hold solids and reduce solids loadings on our clar-ifiers, Kopec says. Its a fairly inexpensive change, and its helped our plant perform extremely well during wet weather.

An underground storage and conveyance tun-nel, ending at the plant and extending some 6,000 feet to the east, will provide additional storm flow control. Kopec says designs are being reviewed this summer, with construction scheduled to start in 2017.

It all adds up to a winning game plan for Mish-awaka as it takes on CSOs.

Our combined effort with the patrols, flow monitoring and just doing such a better job main-taining our sewer lines were seeing fewer back-ups and less CSO discharges to the river, Dolly says.

Adds Kopec, Using 1990 as a baseline, weve reduced CSOs by 86 percent. Our consent decree calls for zero overflows in a typical year. Im abso-lutely certain we can make that goal. F

INSURANCE AGAINST LATERAL CATASTROPHES

Its not uncommon for residents to have to cough up a large amount of money to pay for repairs to sewer lines running from their property to the street. Often, they think the sewer utility is responsible for the lateral, only to discover that the bill is theirs to pay.

In Mishawaka, Indiana, however, residents are protected against catastrophic sewer repair costs through an innovative insurance program.

As part of their regular sewer bill, homeowners pay $1.50 a month

into a sewer insurance fund. The fund pays all costs in excess of $250 that are directly attributable to the repair of a private sewer lateral connection between the foundation wall of the home and the citys trunk sewer line. The fund also covers all costs associated with the removal and replace-ment of public streets, curbs and sidewalks as a result of the repair. If the situation simply requires routine cleaning or maintenance, the homeowner is responsible for that cost.

Tom Dolly, manager of Mishawaka Department of Sewer Maintenance, reports that in 2014 there were 43 calls from residents concerning sewer lateral issues. A little more than half of those incidents qualified for repair under the insurance program. Total payout from the insurance fund was just over $180,000 or about $7,800 per project.

FEATURED PRODUCTS FROM:

Aquatech, a product of Hi-Vac Corporation800/752-2400www.hi-vac.com

CUES800/327-7791www.cuesinc.com(See ad page 119)

Envirosight866/936-8476www.envirosight.com(See ad page 2)

Vactor Manufacturing800/627-3171www.vactor.com(See ad page 3)

The new approach enables the crews to completely clean an entire subsystem feeding one lift station. Weve only been using the new sys-tem for a few months, but we think it will leave our sewer lines even cleaner and reduce the chance of overflows into the river, Dolly says. Weve cut down on CSOs using the grid system, and we expect the new approach will be even more effec-tive. In fact, were already experi-encing fewer calls.

How they workDollys 12-man crew is out daily,

using both trucks and two cameras, knocking down as much footage as we can, he says. We do a lot of inlet and catch basin cleaning, clean-

ing off the top, popping the lid and cleaning them out. We patrol up and down, looking at our inlets. They clog with tree buds in spring and a lot of leaves in the fall. The combi-nation truck flushes them out.

The GIS maps created by Moody also help the maintenance crews spot trouble areas mainly around res-taurants and fast food establishments. We have special markers for these areas in the map and certain man-holes are checked monthly, Dolly says. Some are bad enough they need to be vacuumed out every month.

We do small repairs ourselves, and for larger projects we can go to the Board of Public Works and Safety for competitive bids, he explains.

Computers especially GIS have made the difference in the effectiveness of Dollys team.

This department didnt have a GIS, Dolly recalls. We were using auto cad drawings, and everything was in the wrong place, lines flow-ing in the wrong direction.

With GIS, all our flows are in the right direction and pipes are the right size. We are always checking the system found in the field against historic records from which the GIS sewer base map was created. We are very close to completing the verifi-cation of GIS for the sanitary sys-tem, and about 50 percent on the storm system, he reports. We can get into the truck, look at the com-

puter map and select the line were going to run. It saves time.

Plus, he says, when the trucks return, the data can be put into the system and he can look at everything thats been uploaded, view log reports and watch the videos. Our inlet patrols scan everything digi-tally and make that information accessible on the network.

When we do get a call about a backup in a basement, we can look back and see exactly when and where our crews have been.

If a homeowner calls about a problem, well go out with our TV unit and a push camera and evalu-ate the situation for free. They dont need to call a plumber. We can see the blockage. Then well come back with the camera and show the video to the resident. It makes the con-tractor more accountable.

Other measuresImproving the efficiency of the

sewer system is just one of the strat-egies Mishawaka is using to reduce CSOs and comply with its consent decree mandates. Other measures include improvements at the treat-ment plant itself, separation of sew-ers and removal of sewer bottle- necks, constructing parallel inter-ceptor sewers, expanding river crossings, and plans for a large stormwater storage and conveyance tunnel. Also, extensive CIPP lin-ing of formerly combined sewers has significantly reduced I&I, pro-viding more capacity at the WWTP for wet weather treatment.

Karl Kopec, wastewater division manager, explains that the plant has been expanded twice since its ini-tial operation in 1999 and 2004-

PROTECTING THE ST. JOSEPH RIVER

The St. Joseph (St. Joe) River winds through northern Indiana and southern Michigan farmlands for 206 miles before entering Lake Michigan.

Protecting its water quality from sewer overflows and other forms of pollution is a key to the regions economy, because the river supports an active salmon and trout sport fishery.

The river was stocked with game fish in 1969, and over the years fish ladders have been installed at dams along the river, allowing the fish to migrate upstream to spawning areas. The fish ladder at Mishawaka was completed in 1991 and includes a viewing port where fish can be seen and counted moving upriver.

The St. Joe River Fishery project is one of only a handful of interstate fishery projects in the United States. Economic impact to Mishawaka and other river communities is estimated to be in the millions of dollars annually.

Gary Isle operates the controls on the Vactor 2100 Plus during a cleaning operation while John Francis and Tom Dolly look on.


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THE HUMAN SIDEWe invite readers to offer ideas for this regular column, designed to help municipal and utility managers deal with day-to-day people issues like motivation, team building, recognition and interpersonal relationships. Feel free to share your secrets for building and maintaining a cohesive, productive team. Or ask a question about a specific issue on which you would like advice. Call editor Luke Laggis at 800/257-7222, or email [email protected].

GET IN THEIR HEADSInspire employees to work harder, increase productivity and stay on board longer with these helpful strategiesBy Ken Wysocky

If you do a Google search for motivating employees, first grab a cup of coffee; youre going to need some caffeine to even scratch the sur-face of the 26 million hits that show up. From bonuses and time off to approving naps and casual dress to allow-

ing pets at work and holding after-hours happy-hour bull sessions, theres no end to the grab-bag of strategies employers use to get people to work harder and more efficiently and engender their loyalty. But researchers are slowly making motivation less of a mystery and more of a science. Using tools such as magnetic resonance imaging, researchers have determined that motivating people requires managers to quite literally get inside their employees heads.

This is no small discovery. Motivated employees are critical to organi-zational success because theyre more engaged, productive and innovative, and can handle adversity and change better than their unmotivated coun-terparts. Moreover, companies with highly motivated employees have less turnover and higher levels of customer satisfaction, says Kimberly Schaufen-buel, program director of executive development at the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School and the author of a white paper entitled, Motivation On the Brain: Applying the Neuroscience of Motiva-tion In the Workplace.

To understand what scientists have discovered in our brainpans, a quick science lesson is in order. It all starts with dopamine, a chemical compound in the brain that serves as a neurotransmitter, which (as its name implies) transmits nerve impulses throughout the brain. Dopamine has long been associated with happiness, but research shows its more complicated than that; it can also provoke a flight-or-fight mode in the amygdala region of the brain, hijacking cognitive functions along the way.

Scientists now believe that motivation occurs when dopamine is released and reaches an area of the brain called the nucleas acumens. This part of the brain recognizes that something good or bad is about to happen and creates the impulse to do something about it either minimize a threat or maximize a reward. In short, dopamine is the catalyst that creates the urge to either avoid a threat or head full-throttle for a reward.

In one study conducted at Vanderbilt University, researchers measured the dopamine levels of so-called go-getters versus slackers. In highly moti-

vated go-getter brains, researchers found higher concentrations of dopa-mine in the areas of the brain associated with reward. The slackers brains contained more dopamine in areas of the brain associated with emotion and risk perception.

OK, interesting stuff but does that mean that some of us are genet-ically predisposed to low dopamine and doomed to careers as slackers, always looking to take the easy way out? Not at all. Researchers believe that employers can create a rewarding environment that boosts dopamine pro-duction and helps rewire our brains for motivation.

To understand how to fashion such environments, consider Harvard University professors Paul Lawrence and Nitin Nohria, whose research revealed four fundamental patterns of human behavior: the drive to

acquire, the drive to defend, the drive to bond and the drive to learn. Com-panies and organizations can better motivate employees by designing sys-tems and policies that work in con-cert with each of these four drivers, Schaufenbuel says.

For example, companies can ful-fill the drive to acquire by establish-ing clearly defined links between

performance and rewards. Employers looking to fulfill this drive for employ-ees, and thereby spur motivation, should examine how well they differen-tiate between good and average performance, and how well they identify and reward high performers versus average and low performers, she writes.

To diminish the drive to defend, which occurs when people feel threat-ened, companies must act fairly and transparently in matters such as work assignments and compensation. To fulfill the drive to bond the brains desire to be social companies must emphasize and reward collabora-tion, and provide consistent, regular feedback so employees always know where they stand and comprehend how it affects others in a positive way, she notes.

Another motivational model, developed by researcher David Rock, the director of the NeuroLeadership Institute and author of Your Brain at Work, is called SCARF, which stands for status, certainty, autonomy, relatedness and fairness. Rock posits that these five social needs are hardwired into our brains and can be nurtured by creating a workplace environment that sates the brains need for these five items. The result: a flood of dopamine that jump-starts the reward/motivation motor.

Understanding the drivers for a reward response enables leaders to motivate others more effectively.

For example, they can satisfy the need for autonomy through flexible work hours, status

through skill development/training and relatedness via networking opportunities.

Kimberly Schaufenbuel

Heres how those five social needs shake out:

Status. This refers to an employees need for respect and esteem. Cater to this need by couching performance reviews and feed-back as opportunities for growth and improvement, not punishment for bad per-formance. Give feedback based on the sit-uation, not on the person dont make it personal, Schaufenbuel cautions.

Certainty. Without this element, our brains shift into survival mode, which obscures decision-making abilities. Employees gen-erally dont like change, so keep them in the loop make their brains feel as involved as possible, she notes.

Autonomy. Independence makes employ-ees feel like theyre more in control, which reduces stress. The majority of us dont like to be micromanaged, Schaufenbuel says. Independence makes us feel trusted.

Relatedness. When employees work in a friendly environment as opposed to acri-monious, the brain disables its threat responses. The upshot: Foster a culture that celebrates teamwork and camaraderie. Cre-ate an environment where employees see you as on their side, she advises.

Fairness. Because the brains main goal is survival, unfairness things like different treatment for different employees, broken promises, disparate compensation levels and so forth triggers a threat response. Fair and equitable treatment, on the other hand, provokes a reward response, which boosts motivation. In fact, research shows that employees prize fairness more than money, she notes.

Overall, Rocks SCARF framework upends conventional notions about what motivates employees. Instead of focusing on paying peo-ple more or offering more perks, its far more beneficial to create a social system that fulfills Rocks five basic needs and, in effect, rewards employees brains and keeps them motivated. Or think of it this way: If employees always feel threatened, their amygdala takes over to protect them, which reduces their ability to think ratio-nally, solve problems effectively, make good deci-sions and collaborate with colleagues, Schaufenbuel explains.

Understanding the drivers for a reward response enables leaders to motivate others more effectively, she points out. For example, they can satisfy the need for autonomy through flex-

ible work hours, status through skill develop-ment/training and relatedness via networking opportunities. This reduces the over-reliance on external rewards and scarce resources such as money.

This model can be applied and practiced

in any situation where people collaborate, includ-ing work environments and social gatherings, she continues. By thinking about the five domains before interacting with an individual or group, you ensure that youre focusing on reward responses, and motivation increases. F


THE HUMAN SIDEWe invite readers to offer ideas for this regular column, designed to help municipal and utility managers deal with day-to-day people issues like motivation, team building, recognition and interpersonal relationships. Feel free to share your secrets for building and maintaining a cohesive, productive team. Or ask a question about a specific issue on which you would like advice. Call editor Luke Laggis at 800/257-7222, or email [email protected].

GET IN THEIR HEADSInspire employees to work harder, increase productivity and stay on board longer with these helpful strategiesBy Ken Wysocky

If you do a Google search for motivating employees, first grab a cup of coffee; youre going to need some caffeine to even scratch the sur-face of the 26 million hits that show up. From bonuses and time off to approving naps and casual dress to allow-

ing pets at work and holding after-hours happy-hour bull sessions, theres no end to the grab-bag of strategies employers use to get people to work harder and more efficiently and engender their loyalty. But researchers are slowly making motivation less of a mystery and more of a science. Using tools such as magnetic resonance imaging, researchers have determined that motivating people requires managers to quite literally get inside their employees heads.

This is no small discovery. Motivated employees are critical to organi-zational success because theyre more engaged, productive and innovative, and can handle adversity and change better than their unmotivated coun-terparts. Moreover, companies with highly motivated employees have less turnover and higher levels of customer satisfaction, says Kimberly Schaufen-buel, program director of executive development at the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School and the author of a white paper entitled, Motivation On the Brain: Applying the Neuroscience of Motiva-tion In the Workplace.

To understand what scientists have discovered in our brainpans, a quick science lesson is in order. It all starts with dopamine, a chemical compound in the brain that serves as a neurotransmitter, which (as its name implies) transmits nerve impulses throughout the brain. Dopamine has long been associated with happiness, but research shows its more complicated than that; it can also provoke a flight-or-fight mode in the amygdala region of the brain, hijacking cognitive functions along the way.

Scientists now believe that motivation occurs when dopamine is released and reaches an area of the brain called the nucleas acumens. This part of the brain recognizes that something good or bad is about to happen and creates the impulse to do something about

september 2015

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