The TV van is one of the City’s most essential assets. It allows us to view the conditions of the sewer infrastructure and helps us manage our ever expanding sewer system. This program helps us identify and prioritize problems and helps us to determine the lines that need to be repaired or replaced.

The camera, shown below, is a self propelled unit that can run out 1200 feet at a time. The camera can fit in lines as small as 6 inches and as large as 30 inches. We also have the ability to inspect some services from the main towards property. This will help us identify problems that might occur in service lines.

We use the TV van to televise new and old sewers all year in every type of weather. We typically must set up the TV van at intersections and in the middle of the street. During this process we do our best not to impede traffic.

 

The two sewer trucks shown below are essential pieces of equipment in the maintenance of the City's sanitary sewer mains. You may have seen these trucks set-up in streets and intersections of Bozeman. We either flush the main with a high pressure nozzle (up to 3000 psi) to get sediment and debris stirred up and sent down the lines to our bigger transmission mains which lead to the Water Reclamation Facility. In other instances, due to the large trees that line many of our streets, we will root cut the mains. The root systems of these trees seek out moisture and can find it in the sewer mains. The roots intrude into the mains through joints in the lines. With a root cutting attachment we can flush and cut these roots back to allow the lines to flow freely. This is a year round preventative maintenance program to ensure clean, good flowing sewer mains.

 

 

A big concern with any water system is water loss. Leaks on water mains and services may take months to reach the ground surface, or may never get large enough to surface. It is important that we keep this in check and limit the amount of water we lose, because we are ultimately paying to treat and distribute that water. To limit the water loss, we have adopted a program to eliminate leaks in a more timely fashion.

The way we go about this is fairly simple. We have a device that enhances our ability to listen to leaks. Pictured to the left is our listening device. Essentially, we use it to listen to each and every fire hydrant in town. This will get us in the general ballpark for where a leak exists.

Once we find a leak we utilize more sophisticated equipment to pinpoint it. We will put sensors on water valves around the leak and input data into the leak correlator CPU. From there, it utilizes the frequency and amplitude of the sound through the pipe to determine where the leak is located on that segment of pipe. A picture of the equipment is shown below.

Ultimately, our goal with this is to reduce the water loss in our system and only treat the water that gets used. If you see someone out on the sidewalk with this equipment on their body listening to a fire hydrant, you now know what they are trying to do.

 

 

The City of Bozeman utilizes a Radio Read Metering System. The system has virtually eliminated the human error factor involved with manual reading. In the fall of 2012 the City installed 6 receivers throughout the City and MSU that collects meter reads every 24 hours. Newer meters will also report possible water leaks and backflow events.

Every water system has valves that regulate, stop, or start the flow of water in the distribution lines. Being able to operate these valves at a moment’s notice is extremely important. In an emergency, sections of a distribution system may need to be shut down without delay. However, if a valve is not used over a period of time it can seize-up from corrosion and get stuck, making the valve inoperable.

The City of Bozeman Water Department has two valve exercising machines. The first is truck mounted and the second is on a trailer. Both units have small vacuum systems to clean out any debris that has fallen into the valve box. A valve box is a nine inch cylinder with a metal lid that provides access to the underground valve. Both units turn the valves at an even speed which properly cleans the threaded shaft on the valve. Typically, the water department employees exercise half the valves in the city every year. Safety precautions of cones, strobe lights on vehicles, and vests for employees are standard equipment.

Below is a photo of a valve box lid for accessing the valve from above the ground through the valve box.

The two pieces of equipment below are used to operate the valves:

 

 

 Above is a picture of a crew using our valve exercising trailer with skid vacuum and pressure washer.

 

 Above is a picture of a crew using our truck mounted valve exercising machine with skid vacuum.

The City of Bozeman Water/Sewer Department operators are currently performing curb box maintenance. A curb box is the above ground access point to an underground valve on each City of Bozeman water service. The exposed portion is a round metal piece about 5” in diameter. This stop is used to control the water flow from outside the building in the event of a leak or to perform routine maintenance. Water operators are locating, operating, adjusting grade if needed and updating location maps. They will paint the top of the box blue and put a blue strip on the curb adjacent to the street so that it is easier to find for any future work such as getting a Global Positioning System point for it.

Typically the curb box is located inside the homeowner’s property between the water main and the building being served. Over time landscape changes or additions (sidewalks, driveways) may cover the box. Usually we can locate the box with a magnetic locator and expose it with a shovel without much disturbance, other times if may take more effort.

Operators are instructed to attempt to contact homeowners before starting this operation. They will leave a door hanger notice if unsuccessful. No major work will be done without the homeowner’s knowledge with the exception of an emergency.

The City of Bozeman Water and Sewer Department is responsible for locating water, sewer, and storm sewer infrastructure. You may see the water/sewer employees in the middle of intersections or busy roads with a reflective vest and a can of paint. This is because many of our utilities are buried below the streets we drive on every day. A picture of a sewer main being marked on the road surface is shown below.

In order to locate services and mains we use a variety of tools such as, engineered record drawings and plans, GIS software, and radio frequency locators. Each utility has a color associated with it when it comes to marking. Our colors are blue for water and green for sanitary and storm sewer. Below is the complete color code.

 

The reason we locate this infrastructure is to help prevent damage from any type of excavation in the vicinity and to prevent anything from being built or even planted over any utility which could create a conflict, endanger, or compromise the integrity of our lines.

Even the smallest of projects requires a call to the locate center. 811 is a federally mandated call-before-you-dig number. It is also a free service to locate your utilities. So, before you begin digging, dial 811.

During the warmer months, the City of Bozeman Water Department will flow fire hydrants. Each year this website will show the places we will be flowing fire hydrants. This flowing procedure is done annually through September to ensure serviceability and flows for fire protection. You may experience some pressure changes and discoloration of your water; however this is only a temporary condition which should clear up within a few hours. If you have any questions or concerns, please call the City Shops at 406-582-3200.

Flowing fire hydrants increases the velocity of the water in the mains. Water main valves are manipulated to move water in desired directions. The increased velocity and control of direction of flow is an effective way to clean water mains. In addition to cleaning water mains, much is accomplished by this annual program. Operators inspect the condition, accessibility and general location of the hydrant. Problems can be corrected and maps updated. Pressure data that is gathered can be used for future development and the design of fire sprinkler and irrigation systems.

Sewage is the used water and wastes discharged by a community. Sewage is collected from the drains of sinks, showers, toilets, laundry facilities, etc. Sewage comes from the drains in homes and businesses, into the sewer lines (or "collection system"), and is then transported to a sewage treatment facility.
What causes sewers to back up?

Sewer back ups are caused when the sewage collection lines get clogged. These clogs are often caused by fats or greases , paper, feminine sanitary pads or tampons, disposable diapers, cloth, wood, or any other materials that get caught in the line and plug it up.

Sewage back ups are very costly, messy, stinky, and pose a serious threat to the health and safety of people and animals. Infectious diseases can be transmitted from raw sewage resulting in serious illnesses or even death.

Only feces, urine, and toilet paper should be flushed down the toilet. Other drains should only be used to dispose of used water and soaps from washing or cleaning activities.

You cannot flush anything down the drain that could clog the sewer collection system or anything that could damage the sewage treatment facility. This includes:

• Flammable or explosive liquids, solids, or gases.
• Fats, oils or greases.
• Big chunks of garbage, sand, metals, wood, straw or grass, wastepaper, plastics, animal parts, glass, cat litter (including so called "flushable" cat letter), disposable diapers, sanitary napkins, tampons (including tampon applicators), other bulky so called "disposable" products, or similar substances.
• Corrosive substances that are either acidic or caustic.
• Any substance that is toxic to the treatment facilities or workers in the facilities.
• Dye wastes or tanning solutions.
• Anything radioactive.
• Septic tank pumpings, or materials from pit privies or cesspools

The above types of materials can cause clogs in the sewer lines or damage to the collection system or treatment facility. They may also pose safety threats to citizens and sewage plant workers. Some of the prohibited substances are not readily removed in the sewage treatment process, and therefore pose a threat to water quality when discharged with the facilities effluent. ("Effluent" means the treated water from a sewage treatment facility that is discharged into a stream, river, or groundwater.)

A sewage treatment facility is usually publicly owned, which means we all pay for the associated costs. Proper sewage treatment is vital in protecting everyone from water borne diseases and protecting the environment from pollution. This important job is not cheap! We all pay for it! By following the above guidelines we all contribute to protecting our community's investment and keeping costs as low as possible. Clogs in city sewer lines from grease or other materials cost money to be cleared out. This cost is passed on to everyone in the form of higher taxes and/or higher user fees.

Violations of the municipal code concerning prohibited materials in the sewage collection system could lead to prosecution and conviction of a misdemeanor.

We hope this guideline helps everyone prevent sewage backups! Please feel free to call our office if you have any further questions or concerns at 406-582-3120. Protect your health and our environment…only flush acceptable substances down the drain! Reprinted With Permission From Gallatin City-County Health Department