PALMDALE – City of Palmdale officials Wednesday morning unveiled a new high-tech camera that is helping to inspect and monitor the City’s 404 miles of sewer lines.
The camera, a ROVVER X 130, is a remote-controlled, twin-motor, 6-wheel drive crawler, equipped with the RCX90 digital camera, a high-resolution video and still camera that can zoom, rotate, tilt, and even measure the width of cracks in sewer pipes.
“Back in July 2009, the City of Palmdale became the proud new owner and maintainer of all our sewer pipes of various sizes, two pump stations, and over 8,500 manholes or access points throughout our 105 square miles of the current City service area,” said Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford. “As owners of the sewers, we are, just like any homeowner, responsible for the care and maintenance.”
“A big part of our responsibility is to inspect our sewers, a task that is daunting when you consider we have 404 miles of pipes and they’re all underground,” said Utilities Services Manager Gordon Phair.
Internal video inspection of the sewer pipelines became a crucial element of the maintenance process, and in late 2012, the City approved the purchase of the camera for $100,366.21.
The wheels on the crawler are interchangeable, allowing it to fit in pipelines ranging from 6 to 15 inches in internal diameter.
The video inspection device is equipped to perform video inspection on storm drains, as well.
Typically, the camera runs about eight feet deep and searches for defects in the sewer lines, officials said.
“It’s looking for cracks, it’s looking for damaged pipes, it’s looking for vermin, it also looks for the accumulation of fats, oils and grease, which can clog the pipe,” Phair said. “In some places we have calcium build up in the pipes where the ground water is high and infiltrates the pipe. It creates a hard water buildup like on your bathtub.”
The city’s Public Works Department started using the camera about four months ago.
The camera has already found a few defects in the sewer system that happened over time, according to Sewer Maintenance Supervisor Tim Carney.
“That’s what it’s for, to actually get down in there and see the problems before they become big problems,” Carney said. “Then we can get them fixed.”
City officials are also reminding residents of the important role they play in sewer maintenance.
“We like to tell people to keep FOG out of their sinks and toilets,” Phair said. “FOG stands for fats, oils and grease. These three items can cause havoc on our sewer systems, causing overflows that can create great and costly damage to their homes.”
For more information on FOG, call 267-5272 or visit the city’s website at www.cityofpalmdale.org.
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Allen Pangan says
Job well done, kudos to Sewer Maintenance team firstly and thank COP management for their support, I’m glad the City is finding ways to finance some projects and buying much needed equipments for the crew.
Better Use says
If anyone wonders which government “camera” is truly going to benefit tax payers in the long run, my money is on the sewer cam. Unlike the boondoggle “Eye in the Sky,” the City of Palmdale will be able to MONITOR its effectiveness, AND it has a proven track record of ACTUALLY WORKING!
What a concept! Taxpayer dollars being used for the benefit of the citizens!
Stinger says
The difference between the two cities becomes quite clear when one watches what they are doing with the taxpayers’ money, and whom will benefit from the expenditure of those funds…
Doc Rivers says
I saw the Lancaster Council on the sewer cam during the demonstration. Marvin the rat was hanging out with Raymond the rat as they both live in the sewer they looked right at home.
Lynn says
Putting Mars Rover technology to earthly use in the sewer lines…an interesting use of cutting edge technology.
Hmmmm says
That’s an awfully expensive RC car.
John Mlynar says
Maintaining over 400 miles of sewers is quite an undertaking. This camera will help detect potential sewer overflows caused by fats, oils and grease—or FOG — before they occur, saving the expense of clean ups. It inspects for cracks, root intrustion and allows the City to pinpoint exactly where there may be an issue with the sewer pipe. This allows crews to know the exact location if an when a repair is needed. That saves time and money.
It is a valuable tool to maintain the efficiency of the City’s sewer system. Sewers tend to be those “out of sight, out of mind” things, until one backs up.
Gladys says
I think Burbank and Studio City might benefit from something like this. They have utility pipe problems all the time.
QHR says
Lancaster has LEAPS to monitor crime and Palmdale wants to monitor crap?
Stinger says
Maybe, but I’ll wager that Palmdale’s money is better spent…
Better Use says
The LEAPS is supposed to monitor crap. Unlike LEAPS however, the Palmdale sewer camera will actually be able to make a difference in cleaning it up.
Turd Ferguson says
Comparing LEAPS to a sewer camera?Comparing LEAPS to a sewer camera?There is no comparison.There is no comparison.The sewer camera produces results.The sewer camera produces results.LEAPS is a joke.LEAPS is a joke.The sewer camera looks for problems and finds them.The sewer camera looks for problems and finds them.LEAPS finds people hiding in the desert who could be picked up in a sherriffs truck.LEAPS finds people hiding in the desert who could be picked up in a sherriffs truck.The sewer camera is not duplicated by the sherriffs sewer camera.The sewer camera is not duplicated by the sherriffs camera.The sherriffs heliocopter that we pay for can find people hiding in the desert who could be picked up in a sherriffs truck.The sherriffs heliocopter that we pay for can find people hiding in the desert who could be picked up in a sherriffs truck.The sewer camera cost $100,366.21 one time.The sewer camera cost $100,366.21 one time.LEAPS cost $90,000.00 a month 120 times.LEAPS cost $90,000 a month 120 times.That is $10,800,000.00 for 10 years and crime is going up!That is $10,800,000.00 for 10 years and crime is going up!What a waste of tax payer money.What a waste of tax payer money.We spend $10,800,000.00 on LEAPS and Frank Visco makes money and crime goes up.We spend $10,800,000.00 on LEAPS and Frank Visco makes money and crime goes up.They spend $100,366.21 one time have $979,633.79 more than us. They spend $100,366.21 one time have $979,633.79 more than us.With less crime.With less crime.Stop wasting tax payer money on a useless plane.Stop wasting tax payer money on a useless plane.No to LEAPS!No to LEAPS!
dumbandblind says
No need for expensive camera equipment for dirt filled drains and sewers!