WASHINGTON SUBURBAN SANITARY COMMISSION 14501 Sweitzer Lane, Laurel, Maryland 20707-5902. (301) 206-8100. Fax:(301) 206-8186. E-Mail:communications@wsscwater.com

WSSC Water Main Inspection Program Named
2009 Project of the Year by
Trenchless Technology Magazine

LAUREL, MD (October 28, 2009): WSSC is pleased to announce its water transmission main inspection program is the 2009 Project of the Year for Rehabilitation by Trenchless Technology Magazine. In 2007, WSSC began implementing a new program using state-of-art testing technologies in order to maintain its major transmission mains. In the publication’s November issue, WSSC is honored for “its innovative approach and use of technology to cost-effectively craft a repair program.”

“WSSC is extremely proud to receive this award,” said Jerry N. Johnson, WSSC General Manager. “For decades, the Commission has been at the forefront of using - and even inventing – the latest technologies to serve our ratepayers. We have been moving ahead and making good progress with the new technology.”

The magazine focuses on an early part of the program’s work, the inspection of six miles of 96-inch diameter water main running from WSSC’s Potomac Water Filtration Plant to central Montgomery County. After a complete assessment was made by WSSC’s contractors, (Openaka, Pure Technologies and NDT Corporation), using sonic and ultrasonic testing, it was discovered that 95 percent of the pipe was in good condition. However, a few pipe sections were determined to be in need of immediate repair.

The article states “WSSC had some hard decisions to make regarding the future of the main,” adding the Commission had to face the challenge of how to safely manage the pipes so that their full service life could be recognized. “WSSC implemented a state-of-the-art asset management program relying on continuously monitoring the structural condition of the main so that risk could be tracked and mitigated, if necessary, on an ongoing basis.” Acoustic Fiber Optic (AFO) cable was installed in the main to detect the precursors to failure that occur long before a large transmission main fails.

WSSC plans to inspect approximately 12 to 18 miles of 48-inch and larger PCCP pipe every year. By 2013 all 77 miles of these larger PCCP pipes will be inspected with the goal of re-inspecting the pipes approximately every 6 years. All will be equipped with AFO.

“This honor is particularly gratifying because it recognizes the hard work of dozens of staff from throughout WSSC, as well as the efforts of our consultant and contractor teammates for a program that has been evolving at WSSC over many years,” said Gary Gumm, WSSC Chief Engineer. “This is a vital program that allows us to use our resources better. We were able to address a critical piece of our infrastructure at a lower cost, while lessening the impact on area residents.”

For more details on WSSC’s award as the 2009 Project of the Year for Rehabilitation, you can read the article by clicking here or visiting www.trenchlessonline.com. To speak with WSSC staffs who work on the water transmission main inspection program, contact John C. White, WSSC Public Affairs Manager at (301) 206-8100 or via e-mail at jwhite@wsscwater.com.

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Established in 1918, today WSSC is the 8th largest water and wastewater utility in the nation, with a network of more than 5,500 miles of fresh water pipeline and nearly 5,400 miles of sewer pipeline. Serving 1.8 million residents in Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties our drinking water has always met or exceeded federal standards.