U.S. Submergent Technologies’ comprehensive safety operations program sets us apart from other companies. In addition to providing our customers with thorough, personalized safety plans for each jobsite, every member of U.S. Submergent Technologies’ experienced field crew has completed more than 80 hours of safety and compliance training with ongoing on-the-job instruction. Our crews expertly operate our one-of-a-kind patented technology while making safety our top priority.  Why a safety plan matters A U.S. Submergent Technologies’ Health & Safety plan outlines — in detail — how we will approach the project at hand and the safety precautions that we will take while performing

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We’ve seen it all: sand, grit, sludge, lime buildup, vegetation, and even larger debris such as metal handrails and lawn chairs limiting capacity in pipes and tanks. U.S. Submergent Technologies can remove any type of material (yes, even lawn chairs!) from wet or dry environments in a variety of structures. We use the extremely versatile Combination3® Truck to specialize in removing material from structures such as pipes, tanks, and lift stations while they remain in full operation, and we can also perform work in a drain-down or bypass situation when larger debris is present. A history of removing difficult material

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PREVIOUSLY UNREMOVABLE MATERIAL REMOVED IN EAST FLORIDA Sand, grit, lime, rags, sludge, and other wastewater residuals had accumulated over time in two large East Florida BTU structures, reducing the wastewater treatment plant’s overall capacity. Due to the challenging nature of the material, previous companies had been unable to clean the structure. A buildup of lime sludge was the main issue the facility was facing, and the material was described as having the consistency of “slightly dried out play-doh.” The cost of Sand, grit, lime, rag, and  sludge buildup for wastewater treatment plants A buildup of material in a tank such

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WHAT MAKES IT DIFFERENT? In a word, Gravity! The Combination3® Truck is a unique, ambidextrous tool that allows us to clean pipes, tanks, and a variety of other structures while in operation. It can vacuum using suction and pump using positive pressure, as well as perform jetting. Here, we’re going to examine the differences between traditional technology versus the powerful capabilities of the Combination3® Truck. Let’s take a look at how traditional vacuum technology works Vacuum technology has been around for 50-years and is typically the first tool called upon for cleaning most pipes and tanks. A vacuum uses the

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NITROGEN PURGE PERFORMED ON TANK TO LOWER EXPLOSION HAZARD PRIOR TO CLEANING Sludge and other wastewater residuals had accumulated over time in a Southeast Florida digestor, reducing its treatment capacity. Measuring 65-feet in diameter with 36-feet high walls, the tank was in need of cleaning which contained levels of methane due to the treatment process. Methane buildup in wastewater tanks requires additional safety protocols Methane buildup in wastewater tanks occurs naturally due to the treatment process and has the potential to be hazardous. A drain down of the digestor was necessary before work could commence. To create a safer environment

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NO DRAIN DOWN REQUIRED TO CLEAN OUT YEARS OF BUILT UP MATERIAL IN CENTRAL FLORIDA WASTEWATER FACILITY An oxidation ditch at a Central Florida Wastewater Treatment Plant was in need of cleaning, having built up a significant amount of sand and grit.  The facility’s treatment process is comprised of a Type 1 Oxidation Ditch operating as a conventional activated sludge treatment facility measuring 320-feet by 70-feet. How U.S. Submergent Technologies removed sand and grit from the tank without performing a drain down USST Foreman, Michael Kisling, led the USST crew through the project from start to finish, utilizing the powerful

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WHY EVERY CITY & COUNTY UTILITY SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR COLLECTION SYSTEM & THE CHALLENGES OF CLEANING LARGE-DIAMETER PIPE Water and wastewater collection and treatment processes are largely out of sight, out of mind. Our society often takes this infrastructure for granted and is largely unaware of what’s happening below their feet, even though every person in this country uses it every day at home or at work. Large-diameter pipe (LDP) is generally treated the same way throughout our industry; we don’t see it regularly, so we assume it is functioning properly. LDP infrastructure is primarily only cleaned or

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39-TONS SAND AND GRIT REMOVAL PERFORMED ON DIGESTER Cleaning sand and grit from a digester at a wastewater treatment plant A digester at a Central Florida Wastewater Treatment Plant was due for cleaning, having built up an accumulation of sand and grit. The structure was cleaned in operation with the aid of funding from Florida’s Sand & Grit Grant Assistance Program. See if your facility is eligible for similar funding by reading more about the program here . Measuring 100-feet in diameter with approximately 18-feet high tank walls, the digester was cleaned using the versatile Combination3® Truck. Due to the

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As you may or may not be aware, Florida has funding available through a grant assistance program for qualifying utilities to remove sand and grit from their facilities. We’ve got answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the Sand & Grit Grant Program below. When did the program start? The program began in 2014 and is administered by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) developed to assist wastewater treatment plants in the removal of sand and grit to increase capacity, reduce energy use, and improve effluent quality. How do I qualify? Your facility must be a public utility

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