Plan Your Maintenance with Confidence Using SediVision U.S. Submergent Technologies (USST) understands the cost of cleaning a wastewater tank is directly associated with the amount of material and the difficulty required to reach and remove it. Given the importance of how much cleaning a tank will cost, accurately estimating the amount of material in the tank is just as vital. In our industry, we often run into the question – How much will it cost to clean this tank? Well, that depends on a few factors such as the amount of the material, the type of material, where the material is located, and the work required to reach and remove it. If a tank cannot be drained down to provide a visual assessment, then an estimate of quantity must be used. Probing is often used to estimate how much material is in the tank. However, typically only certain points can be probed, and these areas may not be representative, resulting in a significant under or over estimate. USST has developed a more accurate means to determine how much and where material is in a wastewater tank. SediVisionTM is a state-of-the-art decision-making tool that maps the distribution and volume of material under turbid water in a … Read More
1 Year Later – Impacts of COVID on the Wastewater Industry
It has been a year since our lives were impacted by a global pandemic. Who would have thought we would live through something like this? The coronavirus created a crisis unprecedented in our lifetimes. COVID has personally and professionally challenged each of us to adjust our lives and adapt to new norms in our society. Words like personal protective equipment, social distancing, contact tracing, and essential workers became part of our vocabulary, and the way we conduct business has changed. COVID-19, Changes in the Wastewater Industry & Beyond In March 2020 life seemed to come to a halt and that is no different in the wastewater cleaning industry. Many stopped meeting face-to-face, offices closed, and remote interfacing became the standard. Local governments became cautious on spending and this included infrastructure maintenance. When the pandemic first hit, U.S. Submergent Technologies (USST) found that our reputation and customer relationships built over the years were vital components in carrying us through the lockdown as essential service providers. Now that we have arrived at the one-year anniversary of this pandemic, we want to look back and share lessons learned. We asked our team about their experiences from the past year, in the field and … Read More
60 Tons of Material Removed from Coastal Treatment Plant
USST Focuses on Problem Areas to Restore Plant Capacity A coastal wastewater treatment plant in North Florida was experiencing a loss of capacity and a decrease in flow due to sand and grit accumulation in their structures. U.S. Submergent Technologies (USST) was called in to assess the situation. Our knowledgeable and experienced team probed the facility and discovered a buildup of sand and grit in the aeration train, effluent channel, and anoxic tank structures. “Due to location, coastal water treatment facilities absorb year-round activity from people doing yard work and going to the beach. When that happens, fine silty sand ends up in the drainage system causing tremendous capacity loss for treatment facilities,” noted Paul Del Favero, Operations Manager at USST. “I am proud of our crew members for assessing the situation, finding the problem areas, and restoring flow to this facility safely and efficiently. Our cleaning efforts have resulted in healthier water returning to the ecosystem.” Using USST’s Combination3® technology and GritGone Process®, crews removed 60 tons of paint filter dry material from three structures. Our patented Combination3® truck is more than just a simple vacuum truck; it has a jetter, vacuum, downhole pump, and 49-foot extended knuckle boom fully integrated on one … Read More
SediVision Gets To Work Saving Customer Thousands of Dollars
Eliminates the Guesswork of Material in Wastewater Tanks In Southeast Florida, U.S. Submergent Technologies (USST) was able to provide visibility to managers of a wastewater treatment facility regarding their oxidation ditch and potential loss of capacity. The visibility was provided by USST using SediVisionTM, an exclusive tool that allows for complete visibility of sand and grit accumulation in wastewater tanks. In our industry, draining down a wastewater tank can be logistically difficult. Because the water is highly turbid, handheld rods are typically used to probe around the tank edges to determine the quantity of material. This is an unreliable means to estimate how much material is spread throughout the tank. For this customer, not knowing exactly how much material was in the tank created uncertainty, which typically leads to higher costs. Uncertainty is the Achilles’ heel of our industry; uncertainty of the type, volume, and location of the material. For this project, uncertainty might have delayed much-needed maintenance on the oxidation ditch indefinitely. However, by utilizing our SediVisionTM technology, USST was able to provide greater certainty in the volume of material and present a solid work plan that was much more affordable for the customer. Because SediVisionTM allowed for targeted … Read More
Over 22 Tons of Material Removed from 52 Feet Below Grade
A Hazardous Challenge Met by USST Crews and Equipment In an urban area of Central Florida, two wet wells had filled up rapidly with rag, FOG, and sand and grit material. These structures serve as master lift stations for a city, (commercial and residential areas) keeping wastewater moving 52 feet below grade to the wastewater treatment facility. U.S. Submergent Technologies’ (USST) equipment was able to remove this stubborn material from the depth required and our crews came in to meet this challenge head-on, safely, and efficiently. “This is the deepest wet well we have cleaned and might be the deepest in Florida,” said Paul Del Favero, Operations Manager at USST. “I applaud our team and their continued emphasis on safely getting the job done.” Safety is the most important thing at USST, and a deep well is one of the most dangerous structures to clean in our industry. Our crews undergo competent person confined space entry training and possess hundreds of hours of experience for this type of job. USST also factors in precautions such as fall protection, atmospheric monitoring, explosion-proof ventilation, OSHA-10 training, and intrinsically safe lighting. Additionally, our patented and versatile equipment can handle removing a wide range … Read More
Eliminating the Guesswork of Material in Wastewater Tanks
SediVision Provides Complete Visibility of Sand and Grit Accumulation Over the years at U.S. Submergent Technologies (USST) we have cleaned hundreds of wastewater tanks for local utilities. This experience has identified a persistent issue for our customers, which is not having an accurate estimate of the material in their tanks due to a lack of visibility. Because it is impossible to see through extremely turbid water and draining down wastewater tanks is frequently not an option. In our industry, we often find ourselves asking – What happens if there is more material in the tank than estimated? At USST, we have solved the issues associated with uncertainty in the quantity of material in wastewater tanks. These issues include maintenance setbacks such as the scope of work, schedule, budget, and change orders. The solution is SediVisionTM, a decision-making tool that provides complete visibility of sand and grit accumulation in wastewater tanks. By producing digital images of accumulated material that is stealing away valuable capacity, utility managers can plan for future maintenance with confidence. The value of this information is unquestionable, especially if you have ever encountered an incorrect assumption in the field. Knowing the quantity of material eliminates guesswork and facilitates … Read More
From Jobs Big to Small, in 2020 USST Solved It All
USST Crews Removed Over 10,000 Tons of Material in 2020 U.S. Submergent Technologies (USST) has been expanding on our versatility and widening our scope of experience by performing submergent cleaning all over Florida and in parts of Georgia. In 2020, USST removed more than 10,000 tons of material for our customers. Some of the material USST removed includes; sand, grit, sludge, rag, FOG, grout, lime, filter media, and biosolids. “We are proud of our crews’ accomplishments, work completed, and the experiences gained. In 2020, our company stepped further outside the wastewater industry into potable, stormwater, and industrial applications. These valuable experiences expand our depth of knowledge when cleaning wet infrastructure,” said Denver J. Stutler, Jr., CEO at USST. Two examples illustrate the capabilities and versatility of our crews and equipment. In South Florida, crews removed over 400 tons of material to restore capacity and maintain flow for critical wet infrastructure, this project involved a few structures including a digester tank which required confined space entry. When this is required on a project, USST crews take extra care to follow our company’s detailed Confined Space Program. Crew members ensure that the presence of atmospheric hazards are eliminated through proper ventilation and … Read More
Introducing SediVision, A Decision-Making Tool for Allocating Limited Resources
SediVisionTM allows you to see the conditions beneath dark water due to excessive turbidity in your tanks Given most wastewater infrastructure is out of sight, it often can be out of mind unless it becomes an emergency. Because the water in these structures is highly turbid, it can be difficult to see what is beneath the water stealing your valuable capacity. To help managers responsible for the maintenance of critical wet infrastructure, U.S. Submergent Technologies (USST) developed a remarkable decision-making tool designed especially for wastewater conditions called SediVisionTM. SediVisionTM allows for complete visibility where there has never been any, under dark water in your tanks. This information can be used to guide the allocation of limited resources and direct cleaning efforts towards structures with the highest accumulation, resulting in a more efficient cleaning process. SediVisionTM provides visibility and preparation for the project ahead, ensuring a more tailored solution, precise use of time and resources, and a quicker outcome to meet your needs. USST’s SediVisionTM Provides: Comprehensive pre-and post-cleaning inspection images and reports. Recommendations for the best course of action for removal of material. Would knowing how much and what the material is in your tanks be useful? USST’s SediVisionTM can … Read More
U.S. Submergent Technologies Solves Problems Outside Wastewater Industry
In Southern Florida, Over 14 Tons of Material Removed from Salmon Fishery Recently, U.S. Submergent Technologies (USST) had a chance to use our tools and team to solve problems outside the wastewater industry. A salmon fishery required the removal of waste material from three of their tank structures to restore vital capacity and maintain flow. USST’s powerful Combination3® Truck, a versatile patented piece of equipment, was used to safely and efficiently remove over 14 tons of material from these structures. “The versatility of our Combination3® Truck allows us to access and clean structures outside of typical wastewater treatment facilities,” said Paul Del Favero, Operations Manager at USST. “This is another outstanding example of our approach to solving a customer’s problems – understand the problem, apply the right tools, and get the job done safely with our qualified team.” A challenge on this project is one of the structures, the Chiller Tank, was inside a large building and would typically pose an access issue for waste removal services. However, USST’s crew using its pump while extending a vacuum hose attached to our powerful Combination3® Truck was able to reach the structure and remove all of the material. The need for confined … Read More
USST’s Comprehensive Safety Operations Program Has You Covered
U.S. Submergent Technologies’ comprehensive safety operations program sets us apart from other companies. In addition to providing our customers with thorough, personalized safety plans for each jobsite, every member of U.S. Submergent Technologies’ experienced field crew has completed more than 80 hours of safety and compliance training with ongoing on-the-job instruction. Our crews expertly operate our one-of-a-kind patented technology while making safety our top priority. Why a safety plan matters A U.S. Submergent Technologies’ Health & Safety plan outlines — in detail — how we will approach the project at hand and the safety precautions that we will take while performing the work. A well-thought-out safety plan helps our crews, our customers, and our communities avoid dangerous situations, and just as important, a safety plan outlines the appropriate response in case an unexpected situation arises. What U.S. Submergent Technologies’ safety plans cover U.S. Submergent Technologies is committed to instituting and maintaining a comprehensive Health and Safety Program. The goal of our Health & Safety Program is to take the proper steps to prevent loss of life, injury, or property damage to all employees and members of the general public. U.S. Submergent Technologies recognizes that the responsibilities for safety and loss prevention … Read More
