Sewage Air Release Valves Operations and Maintenance Challenges

The Oakland County Drain Commissioner (OCDC) is a municipal agency charged with providing a variety of public works services for cities, villages and townships located within the County. The Pump Maintenance Unit of OCDC (PM Unit) is responsible for operating and maintaining sewage air release valves (ARV's) and sewage air/vacuum valves (ARVV's) in 9 Oakland County communities. The valves are generally located in manhole structures, and relieve air and vacuum from sewage force mains and pressure sewers. Failure of the valves can create problems such as sanitary sewer overflows, air binding of force mains/pressure sewers, reduced pumping efficiency, and force main/pressure sewer collapse due to inadequate vacuum relief.Based upon lessons learned during the last 12 years, the OCDC has developed a number of strategies for ARV/ARVV operations and maintenance activities. Proper operations and maintenance activities ensure ARV's and ARVV's function properly, which will in turn ensure force mains and pressure sewers convey sanitary flow reliably and efficiently.