Sewers and Our Customers: One Utility's Efforts To Raise Public Awareness

In an effort to reduce inflow and infiltration (I&I), the Ronald Wastewater District (RWD) is focusing on replacing private side sewers since they are the primary entry point of I&I. Entering onto private property to replace privately owned side sewers, as part of an RWD public works project, would require the permission of the owner. Convincing the property owner to allow entry would require that RWD have a simple and clear message. This message would be based on good knowledge of I&I, pipe replacement techniques, and pipe materials, and would be communicated in a variety of ways.Developing the message and the methods of communication began with researching the I&I problem. After that, steps were taken to investigate a variety of pipe materials and rehabilitation techniques, establish the legal basis to replace the side sewers, draft a side sewer replacement policy, and select the pipes to be replaced. The final step and ongoing process is communicating the side sewer replacement process to the ratepayers.The unique aspect of RWD's side sewer replacement initiative is that the private side sewer can be replaced at no additional cost to the homeowner. That is why RWD is making a concerted effort to raise public awareness of the rehabilitation projects.