Manhole Inspection Pilot Study Baltimore County Department of Public Works, Baltimore, MD |
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EA Engineering, Science and Technology, Inc. (EA) has hired PEER Consultants, P.C. (PEER) to assist in a two month pilot study to determine the cost effectiveness of contracting out manhole inspection work to outside contractors. PEER is providing experienced manhole inspectors and equipment to perform manhole inspections. The Baltimore County, Maryland, Department of Public Works, Bureau of Utilities (County) has entered into a Consent Decree to ensure compliance with the Federal Clean Water Act and Maryland water pollution control laws. EA was hired to manage the overall consent decree program, as well as performing the sewershed evaluation study in the Upper Jones Falls sewershed. Among other things the consent decree requires the inspection of all manholes and other sewer system structures according to a specified schedule with significant penalties per manhole for every day after the deadline. In the past the County manhole inspection program has been performed by County personnel. EA has determined that the current County resources are insufficient to meet the deadline specified in the Consent Decree. Each inspection consists of a site survey upon arrival to verify location data and to assess the ground conditions around the structure with any problems noted. Once the cover condition is assessed and documented it is removed and the internal structural and operational inspection is conducted. Defects including, but not limited to, evidence of inflow and infiltration, missing bricks, and restrictions of the flow in the channel are documented, as are the conditions of all pipe connections. Invert and pipe diameter measurements are taken to complete the inspection. All of the data is gathered using an Envirosight Quickview pole camera to capture still photos and a linked computer based database system.
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