Board approves purchase of electronic sewer‑inspection equipment to target cleaning needs

The La Porte Board of Public Works and Safety approved the purchase of new sewer‑inspection equipment that uses sound frequencies and an acoustic microphone to evaluate sewer condition between manholes, staff said. The board approved the purchase during its Sept. 16 meeting.

Wastewater Superintendent Jerry Jackson told the board the device delivers a simple operator score (0–10) and more detailed analysis that helps crews identify lines needing cleaning or root removal. Jackson said the city tested the device in a neighborhood where crews expected problems and the equipment identified two lines with heavy root masses that had not yet blocked the pipes but would have caused future blockages.

Nut graf: Staff said the tool functions as a triage device that can help the city meet federal inspection/cleaning expectations more efficiently by focusing cleaning work where it is needed rather than on lines that are already clear.

Jackson said the vendor demonstration showed data is uploaded to a web portal and can be integrated into the city's GIS to create work orders. "It gives you more sophisticated analysis, but the operators right up front get a 0 through 10 scale," he said. He recommended purchase after the trial, citing expected cost savings and operational efficiency. The board moved, seconded and approved the purchase.

Ending: Staff will integrate inspection results into GIS and prioritize cleaning based on the vendor's analysis; Jackson said they expect the new tool to shorten cleaning cycles in targeted areas.