Benefiting Customers and the Environment MNWD utilizes technology to ensure reliable wastewater service

LAGUNA NIGUEL, Calif. (July 1, 2010) -- MNWD customers have become accustomed to water from sinks, showers and toilets safely making its way from your home to one of our regional treatment facilities. But it’s no small task, and a dedicated team of MNWD employees works tirelessly to make sure the District’s more than 500 miles of wastewater pipes are free and clear of any blockages.

The nine members of MNWD’s Wastewater Collections Department regularly maintain every District-owned wastewater line. The first step is to lower a high-pressure hose down each manhole to clean the insides of the PVC and clay lines. If any debris is found, a two-person crew vacuums it up with the help of a vac-con truck. These trucks look like elephants with big trunks, and you have probably seen them around the District.

Once the lines are clean, the team lowers a high-resolution video camera down the manhole and directs it through the pipes with a remote control operated from a truck above ground. This technology allows the District to look inside sewer lines that are up to 25 feet beneath the ground, and easily identify cracks and blockages that, if left untreated, could lead to backups and spills.

Since employing the cameras, MNWD has been able to more efficiently perform preventative maintenance, which has significantly reduced the number of wastewater blockages and spills in our service area. In fact, over the past several years, MNWD has had fewer wastewater incidents than any district in Orange County.

The highly experienced Collections team cleans up to 8,000 feet of wastewater lines each day, and because it’s such an important task, employees must maintain specialized licenses from the state and take continuing education courses on a regular basis. This group’s efforts are invaluable to the District, and their proactive approach benefits our customers and the environment every day.