Problem: A splitter box at a Central Florida utility was experiencing reduced capacity due to a significant buildup of sand and grit. Wastewater treatment facilities typically employ a splitter box to separate influent flow to various structures such as aeration basins or clarifiers. This Central Florida splitter box had a visible level of sand above the water line that needed to be cleaned, and the structure measured approximately 40-feet by 25-feet. The utility was also unable to divert flow or take the structure offline, adding another level of complexity to the project. Solution: USST crew mobilized to the site, bringing

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TEXAS’S NO WIPES IN THE PIPES CAMPAIGN You may have heard of a spokeswoman who goes by the name of “Patty Potty,” preaching the good word of toilet etiquette in cities across the state of Texas.  Armed with a bright pink plunger and styled as a 1950s housewife, Patty Potty aims to educate the public about the dangers of putting objects into the toilet that are not one of the three Ps: pee, poo, and (toilet) paper.  She visits classrooms, industry conferences, and district board meetings. The “No Wipes in the Pipes” campaign began in 2014 in an effort to

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7,173-FEET CLEANED, 180-TONS (EST.) OF SAND REMOVED WITH NO BYPASS After experiencing a series of overflows upstream, the City of Tampa was looking to clean sand and grit out of the Bayshore Gravity Sewer while in service.  Without the ability to bypass the line or divert flow, USST performed the work under submerged conditions in the 27-inch and 30-inch pipe. Aaron Hood, one of USST’s experienced Operations Managers (read more about Aaron here!), led the USST crew on the Bayshore project, cleaning more than 7,000-feet of pipe.  “We used our Combination3® truck outfitted with extended boom, downhole pump, and jetter

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CLEANING DOWNSTREAM, NAVIGATING 90-DEGREE TURN IN 30-INCH GRAVITY SEWER USST recently completed work on a 1,200-foot section of 30-inch gravity sewer located under a major roadway which was experiencing reduced capacity due to a buildup of sand and grit.  The facility had explored a number of options but was unable to solve the issue due to safety, time, and cost concerns.  Because the line was unable to be shutdown, USST was able to solve the problem and perform sand and grit removal while in operation, under flow. USST Foreman Michael Kisling led the crew on the project, ensuring all material

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U.S. Submergent Technologies (USST) is well-known for taking on difficult — and often dirty — jobs, while making sure their clients’ production systems stay online. USST keeps entire wastewater systems up and running while cleaning system-clogging debris from lift stations, wet wells, tanks, and other structures. For other projects, USST restores important pipe infrastructure to its full capacity, while the system is still in operation. We spoke with USST Operations Manager Aaron Hood to learn a little bit more about how the GritGone Process® using the Combination3® Technology removes hard-to-reach material from wet environments better than anyone else. Aaron, how

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TEAM TAKES 1ST & 2ND PLACE AT THE FIRST ANNUAL WARRIORS AT EASE GOLF TOURNAMENT If you haven’t heard of the Warriors at Ease organization and the amazing support they provide to U.S. veterans, current service members, and families, please read on. Their vision is to “integrate yoga and meditation into military and civilian settings to support the health, resiliency, post-traumatic growth, and connection of service members, veterans and their families.” In addition to providing yoga and meditation classes on military installations, in VA facilities, and in the community, Warriors at Ease also organizes retreats and programs, provides training and

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30-YEARS OF MATERIAL REMOVED FROM BOTH WET & DRY CONDITIONS IN QUINCY Four structures at the City of Quincy’s Wastewater Treatment Plant were overdue for cleaning, due to a significant amount of sand and grit accumulation over the last 30-years.  With multiple setups needed to complete the project, the USST crew mobilized to the site armed with the versatile Combination3® Truck and removed the built-up sand and grit. A 55-foot diameter digester and a 75-foot diameter nitro tank were the first two structures the crew tackled.  While the structures were in full operation, USST utilized the Combination3® Truck’s downhole pump

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YEARS OF BUILT-UP RAG MATERIAL REMOVED IN DELRAY BEACH An aeration basin at the Delray Beach South Central Regional Reclamation Facility was overdue for cleaning, having built up a significant amount of sand, grit, and rag material that needed to be removed.  The USST crew mobilized to the site armed with the versatile Combination3® Truck, well-prepared to handle the project. Made up of three 60-foot by 60-foot bays, the aeration basin was drained down when the crew arrived.  To aid the cleaning and rehabilitation of the tank, diffusers were removed from the bottom of the bays and USST crew utilized

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You may have spotted the USST crew in pink shirts this month. For the 2nd year in a row, USST will be donating a percentage of all purchase orders during the month of October to support Breast Cancer Awareness and Research. USST also had the pleasure of sponsoring and participating in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Golf Tournament in Miami, Florida. The organization raises money to help the American Cancer Society fund groundbreaking breast cancer research and provide patient services like free rides to chemo, free places to stay near treatment, and a live 24/7 cancer helpline. Give us

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