Municipal
Major Backup Caused by FOGs and Wipes in Baltimore
Fats, oils and grease (FOG) are not to be taken lightly. You may think that a little grease here or a wet wipe there won’t hurt your drains, right? Recently in Baltimore, Maryland what has been referred to as a “fatberg” caused 1 million gallons of sewerage to leak into Jones Falls at the end of September. While investigating the leak, Baltimore authorities noted that about 85% of the pipe is blocked.
The overflows have since been redirected to storm drains, but this could have been prevented. Home owners and business owners a like should be wary of not disposing of FOGs down their drains and even though some of those wet wipes boast “flushable” they should still be disposed of in the trash.
Municipal
Why Most Cities and Counties Require Lift Station Monthly Maintenance Contracts
In case you don’t know, a lift station moves wastewater from lower elevations to higher elevations. They are appropriately named because they “lift” wastewater to higher areas when gravity can’t move the water to where it needs to flow. You might see these used for neighborhoods located at the bottom of a hill when the sewer system is at the top of a hill, for example. In order to get wastewater to the sewer system to be cleaned, the lift station collects the water and then pumps it up the hill.
So what happens when the lift station malfunctions? Flooding, backups, and environmental hazards are all potential outcomes when lift stations aren’t working properly. This is why cities and counties make monthly maintenance mandatory.
We Know Lift Stations
Fortunately, Kaiser-Battistone has the equipment and experienced staff to maintain and repair lift stations. Our hy vac services are great for cleaning up big jobs and accessing deep depths. Much like a septic tank, a lift station has a receiving well where solid waste collects and must be pumped out. Other crucial parts like the pumps, motors, valves and electrical components could also malfunction, and we have a crew specially trained to repair these. Sometimes the pumps are in tight spaces, making them challenging and dangerous to access. For these scenarios, we pull in our team members who are certified in confined space safety.
Count on Us for More Than Just Septic
We are the authority in septic repair and maintenance, but our expertise does not stop there. We service all types of wastewater facilities from small grease traps to entire sanitary systems. Lift stations require unique tools and specialized training so make sure to use a provider who is qualified to inspect and service them. To learn more about lift station maintenance or to request service, Contact Us.
Municipal
What is Alum Sludge Hauling?
There are 3 layers of sewage—scum, effluent, and sludge. The top scum layer is the least dense, consisting of materials that float like oils. The middle effluent layer is mostly water, and the heavy stuff that sinks to the bottom is sludge. Anything denser than effluent (feces, toilet paper, skin cells, etc) makes up the sludge layer. In a wastewater treatment plant, the waste product that develops is known as alum sludge due to the use of aluminum sulfate. It’s usually kept in large alum lagoons or is spread on drying beds. Eventually, the alum sludge builds up and must be removed just like sludge in a septic tank.
We’re Haul You Need
When it comes to hauling away alum sludge, Kaiser-Battistone has the equipment and skills needed to get the job done. We use high-tech lagoon pumps that can handle up to 500,000 gallons, and our hoses remove the maximum concentrations of biomass when we pump. We also have a cable dredge capable of handling million-gallon projects. Our sludge hauling services comply and exceed all disposal regulatory guidelines, so every job is done right! Additionally, we have plenty of disposal options thanks to our relationships with landfills and beneficial reuse facilities. To learn more or to schedule any of our sludge hauling services, Contact Us!
Municipal
How Often Should Your Storm Drain Be Cleaned?
You know those openings you see on roadways and parking lots, often along curbs or covered by a grate? Those are storm drains, also called catch basins. You’ve probably seen a ton of them but may not know their job is to collect rainwater. During heavy rains, you’ll notice these storm drains are strategically located in places where gravity will pull rainwater right to them. From here, the water flows to streams, lakes or eventually rejoins the groundwater through sumps.
Since rainwater often drags dirt, leaves and other debris with it, these catch basins can become blocked. If you notice flooding in the street or yard near you, check the nearest catch basin to see if the opening is free of trash. In the winter, snow could even be built up at the opening causing a blockage. In these cases, you can call Kaiser-Battistone. We have the tools to break up stubborn debris, and our hy vac trucks have the ability to reach great depths to pump out anything that has fallen into the catch basin itself.
Start An Annual Routine
We recommend cleaning out storm drains once a year. Unlike water that goes down the drains of your home or office, the water in catch basins does not undergo a filtration process before reaching local lakes and streams. Therefore, it’s really important to keep these clean and free from contamination. You can do your part by never tossing litter or hazardous materials into a storm drain. If you catch anyone doing so, you should call your local authorities. We’re getting into the rainy season so it shouldn’t be surprising when storm drain issues arise. Kaiser-Battistone is available to clean and service your catch basins, so don’t hesitate to call us when those April showers hit.
Municipal
How Do Lift Stations Work?
Most sewage systems depend on gravity to work. Well, sometimes we need waste to flow against gravity, say uphill. This is where a lift station comes into play. It pumps sewage from low elevations to higher elevations, where it can continue the process of filtration. Just like other septic and wastewater equipment, it must be cleaned and maintained to work properly. Rely on the experts at Kaiser-Battistone to take care of all your lift station needs.
Our Lift Station Service Includes:
- Monthly maintenance contracts (required by most cities and counties)
- 24-Hour Emergency Service
- Pump sales and installation
- Submersible pump repair and rewind
- Lift station rehabilitation
- Control panel manufacturing
- Emergency pump-out service
- Post Weather Event Prioritization
A municipality cannot afford for its lift stations to be down. Contact Us to learn more or Schedule Lift Station Service today.
All, Commercial, Municipal, Residential
January’s Messiest Drain Award
How would you like to start off the year with frozen pipes? Well our customer in Warren, New Jersey wasn’t too excited about this either. Unfortunately, winter is notorious for bringing about frozen plumbing, and it takes special equipment to free up the lines to make them usable again. By applying hydrojetting technology, our technicians melted 125 feet of ice inside the customer’s pipes. The lines were so crammed, they had to jet over 10 times. A normal job usually lasts a couple of hours; this job took up most of the day. Congratulations to this month’s Messiest Drain for n-ICE-ly exhibiting the lengths our guys will go to get the job done!
Brrrrrr…ing on Winter!
Our technicians are ready and more than able to handle your winter septic woes. Septic repairs do not have to be put on hold just because of snow and ice. Kaiser-Battistone technicians are trained and equipped to perform all services even when freezing weather hits. To learn more about winter septic maintenance or to Schedule Repairs, Contact Us Today.
All, Commercial, Municipal, Residential
What Does a System Inspection Consist of?
An inspection is a complete septic examination performed by a technician certified by the state. These are most often required for real estate transactions so that buyers can be sure their home’s septic system is working properly. If you are buying or selling property and plan to schedule an inspection, make sure the inspector shows you the appropriate credentials to prove he is indeed certified. Our company proudly employs the largest number of certified inspectors in the wastewater industry. Let’s take a closer look at what our inspections look like.
Our In-depth Process
- Locate your septic tank and pop it open for pumping and a quick visual inspection
- Measure your tank’s exact specs and evaluation the scum/sludge layer for system performance
- Check the system inlet line with advanced system imaging technology
- System outlet filter and baffle check (if applicable)
- Inspect all pipes leaving the property for any leaks
- Determine the effects of any water treatment, ejector/sump pump, or garbage disposal use
- Image capture your leaching system to fully evaluate the leach field function
But That’s Not All
It’s true we deliver thorough and accurate inspection services, but there are a couple more things our customers really appreciate. The reporting aspect of our inspection process enables us to stand out among other companies because our robust documentation exceeds what the state requires. More importantly, especially to you and your real estate agent, we have super quick turnaround so you can get your inspection results the very next day. Additionally, our online portal conveniently allows you to keep track of your essential paperwork without cluttering up your home or office. When it comes to septic inspections, you can rely on Kaiser-Battistone to take great care of you while making the process fast and simple.
All, Municipal
What is the Difference Between Alum, Dry Cake, and Leachate Sludge Hauling?
Kaiser-Battistone provides a wide variety of common waste services like septic pumping and drain cleaning, but we also take care of the less conventional services. This includes sludge hauling, where we go and remove waste byproducts and properly dispose of them. For those of you unfamiliar with this service, read on to learn about 3 types of sludge hauling performed by the Kaiser-Battistone team.
Alum Sludge Hauling
Alum Sludge is a by-product of water treatment plants, created during the filtration process. It’s usually kept in large alum lagoons or is spread on drying beds. To remove alum sludge, we use high-tech lagoon pumps that can handle up to 500,000 gallons. We also have a cable dredge capable of handling million-gallon projects.
Dry Cake Sludge Hauling
You don’t want to eat this cake! Dry cake sludge is basically waste from sewer plants that has had all the water and fluid extracted from it. Because of its tendency to be hard and sticky, it’s difficult to remove and must be disposed of properly. Kaiser-Battistone has the equipment and skills needed to get the job done, and thanks to our relationships with landfills and beneficial reuse facilities, we have plenty of disposal options.
Leachate Hauling
Leachate is the by-product produced at landfills, and like other sludge, it must be transported and disposed of appropriately. Not only do we handle the hauling service, we also keep methane collection lines beneath the landfill working correctly. With state-of-the-art jetting and camera equipment, we’re prepared for all aspects of leachate removal.
We’re Haul You Need
To learn more or to schedule any of our sludge hauling services, Contact Us!
All, Commercial, Municipal, Residential
Smaller Than GoPros? Check Out the Video Cameras that are Used to Diagnose Septic Problems
Technology has simplified so many areas of life including wastewater management. Septic maintenance continues to become simpler thanks to advancements in the equipment we use. Video technology is one that has truly been a game changer in our industry due to its ability to save time and money. When it comes to septic diagnosis, video cameras have revolutionized our methods of identifying and locating problems.
No More Guesswork
It used to be impossible to see what was going on underground in your septic system without a lot of digging. With the development of special cameras designed to travel through plumbing, technicians can now quickly take a look at the inside of your pipes. These septic cameras can go to great lengths to find clogs, roots, rust spots or cracks in pipes. They can also be used to find good things like that wedding ring you accidentally dropped down the sink.
No More Destruction
Camera technology now allows us to investigate a problem without excavation. Our technicians simply insert the camera and find the blockage or damage. If by chance your pipes are broken, you can even look at trenchless pipelining solutions that make repairs without any digging. Your grounds and landscaping can remain undisturbed from diagnosis to final repair.
Small Cameras, Big Savings
We can pass on great savings to the customer when eliminating the cost of excavation and time to diagnose the problem. Not only that, our little cameras are great for inspections and have grown in popularity as a preventative measure. Businesses like supermarkets and restaurants with high water consumption can certainly benefit from periodic camera inspections due to their ability to find unforeseen problems. Combine these inspections with a healthy maintenance regimen, and you will extend the life and efficiency of your septic system. To learn more or to see our cameras in action, Contact Kaiser-Battistone or Request Service Now.
