The VANDA® Gravity Main Cleaning Index was created by V&A Consulting Engineers to provide a standard for recording condition assessment data during gravity main cleaning with objective criteria. The index presents typical examples of conditions observed when cleaning gravity main segments. This index also becomes the standard rating methodology for machine learning need-for-cleaning predictions (characterized as LOF—likelihood of failure) generated by V&A’s data science services.
“The development of our VANDA® Gravity Main Cleaning Index supports improved data recording and standardized reporting. This is the 3rd proprietary condition rating index designed and released to the market in support of improved data collection from our team at V&A. We are driven to contribute to the water and wastewater industries with innovation, alignment and collaboration, and the indexes are just one way we are supporting municipalities in their ongoing efforts to preserve vital infrastructure. ”
Each of the VANDA® Indexes is presented as a durable, reusable ruler to assist professionals in the field as they assess and report gravity main cleaning conditions, and for corrosion assessments, metal, and concrete. The rulers provide an immediate scale and example visual for measuring and accurately gauging conditions.
The VANDA® Gravity Main Cleaning Index facilitates data collection that builds a foundation for data analysis and improved gravity main cleaning efficiencies. Gathering condition assessment data during gravity main cleaning, coupled with the adoption of a simple, standardized index for that data (as presented in the VANDA Index), positions collection systems for low cost, sophisticated analytics that can provide maintenance supervisors with unique insights and recommendations for improvement of gravity main cleaning processes.
“V&A has been working with collection systems for the past two years to understand how to enable the addition of data-driven recommendations to gravity main cleaning process decision making. Because gravity mains are typically cleaned prior to CCTV inspection, CCTV data that provides operational guidance for removal of FOG, roots, or debris is limited, therefore, promoting the adoption of a cleaning condition assessment data standard is an important step in enabling collection systems to take advantage of available data science techniques and processes to become as efficient as possible with sewer system overflow (SSO) prevention maintenance.”
Attendees of the CWEA Annual Conference are invited to visit V&A at booth #629 to get a free copy of the VANDA® Cleaning Index, while supplies last. Learn the benefits of using the index at the “Effective Collection System Management Workshop: Gravity Sewer Main Cleaning: Innovative Use of Data Science for Optimization" on Monday, April 11th, 10 a.m. pacific time at the Hyatt Regency Sacramento 1209 L Steet.
“Padre Dam has been collecting condition assessment data during gravity main cleaning for many years. This type of data has enabled Padre Dam to leverage our cleaning crew knowledge and observations for continuous improvement of our maintenance processes, Padre Dam supports V&A’s promotion of the importance of gathering this kind of condition assessment data during gravity main cleaning.”
“The Town of Hillsborough collects condition assessment data during the cleaning process and has been working with V&A on the development of this standard index for the past year. The process of developing this standard by leveraging senior staff and their institutional knowledge, has enabled Hillsborough to streamline the onboarding and training of new maintenance staff. Understanding data-driven predictions helps us to focus our maintenance efforts removing FOG, roots and debris, as well as developing future CIP projects for the collection system.””
About Padre Dam
Padre Dam provides water, sewer, recycled water, and recreation services to approximately 100,000 residents in East San Diego County including Santee, El Cajon, Lakeside, Flinn Springs, Harbison Canyon, Blossom Valley, Alpine, Dehesa and Crest. The wastewater collection system includes 164 miles of gravity sewer main and approximately 4.6 miles of pressure sewer main (forcemain). Please visit http://www.padredam.org for more information.
About Town of Hillsborough
The Town of Hillsborough is located within San Mateo County, California in the San Francisco Bay Area with a population of 11,387 in 2020. Hillsborough’s sanitary sewer system is comprised of 98 miles of collection system mainlines, 2,477 manholes, 247 cleanouts, and 4 sewer pump stations. Please visit www.hillsborough.net for more information.