What are the Main Causes of Manhole Deterioration? After years of rehab and lining work spread across thousands and thousands of manholes, we are regularly asked about the most common issues of degradation we encounter. The two most common are inflow and infiltration (I & I) and corrosion. As discussed in previous blogs, I & I is a biggie because it affects treatment plant capacity. Corrosion commonly refers to Hydrogen sulfide (H2SO4) and MIC (microbial induced corrosion) that eat away at concrete manhole structures or the mortar joint of a brick manhole, causing considerable deterioration if left untreated. The good news in all of this is that the OBIC family of lining products, OBIC Armor Three-Layer System, OBIC 1200, and OBIC 5000 Structural Liner are all designed to stop infiltration and prevent corrosion. Tree Roots Tree roots are also a common culprit of severe structural damage to

How to Treat Manhole Inflow and Infiltration Issues Fast We all know infiltration when we see it – you open the manhole cover and there’s seeping water or maybe even rushing water. This groundwater is leaking into the system and ends up at the wastewater treatment plant, causing operational inefficiencies and higher costs for the community. So when you do see it, you need to know what is causing it and how to treat it FAST. We thought it would be a nice refresher to easily show the six main types of I&I in this illustration and how we’ve fixed these for clients: Leaking Casting and Adjusting Ring Joints Manhole frames and covers or adjusting rings are installed to the cone section of the manhole with cement mortar. Because it is at the top near ground level, it’s exposed to freeze/thaw cycles, heavy vehicle loading,

OBIC and NASSCO Partner for Manhole Rehabilitation Video OBIC CEO Dustin Schlachter is a member of the NASSCO Manhole Rehabilitation Committee. NASSCO is the source of education, technical resources and advocacy for the underground infrastructure industry. NASSCO and its 650+ member organizations set standards, promote trenchless technologies and protect our communities through the proper assessment, maintenance and rehabilitation of buried assets. OBIC was one of the sponsors of a video about manhole rehabilitation. Watch this informative and in-depth video to learn: How many manholes exist in the U.S. -- you might be surprised! The causes of deterioration with footage from the field How to maintain structural integrity with trenchless technologies Why rehabilitation is a viable solution over replacement Plus, you will notice our trademark OBIC Orange color throughout the video! Watch the full version here:

How to Protect Your Precast Concrete Manholes From Hydrogen Sulfide Corrosion Precast concrete manholes were first introduced in the mid-1950’s, and by 1970 were widely adopted as the preferred structure for manhole installation in sewer and drainage applications. Those 1970-ish manholes are now 50 years old (hard to believe!), which is probably close to the original, intended design life. It is common for the published ‘war-stories’ or case histories to be about ancient hand-hewn stone structures built by artisan craftsmen, and those manholes do exist in some of our oldest cities. But most of what we deal with are good ol’ precast concrete manhole structures. A recent U.S. EPA technical report stated that hydrogen sulfide corrosion could remove one inch of concrete thickness in a 10-year period. A four-foot diameter manhole has a wall thickness of 5 inches. That should really give most of us something to

Manhole Appreciation Day, Anyone?   Much like Rodney Dangerfield who “got no respect”, by and large manholes don’t get much respect either. They’re located under the street where they are run over millions of times per year by cars, snowplows, bikes, and pedestrians. They might even be buried in a right-of-way, or covered and lost entirely. Manholes definitely fall into the category of “out of sight, out of mind”. But have you ever thought about where our collection system would be without the manhole? While “man-way” sewer access dates back to ancient Roman times, something akin to the style of today’s manhole began to appear almost 200 years ago. Throughout all of that time, while history marched on above the surface, manholes were quietly doing their job of providing access to the sewer line for inspection or cleaning, providing directional connection points, and facilitating system design and

Common Sense, Good Sense, and Sewer Sense Common sense, good sense, and sewer sense are important attributes for those of you involved in the operation, maintenance, and rehabilitation of wastewater systems. It is simply common sense to acknowledge that the manhole and lift station parts of your sewer infrastructure that are 30 to 50 years old, which had an original design life of 30 to 50 years, are probably in need of some attention. In our experience, it is good sense to rehabilitate rather than replace those structures. Why? It will solve your problems with infiltration and corrosion, but with a safer, faster, and lower-cost process. Service interruptions are minimized with rehabilitation because you won’t need to excavate. Without the need to excavate, you’ll be the hero with a minimally invasive and less disruptive solution. And, finally, the sewer sense (not the smell) part is the selection

Culvert Lining Rehab Means Better Than New at a Fraction of the Cost OBIC is best known for its work around wastewater structures such as manholes, lift stations, and WWTP facilities that help municipalities mitigate their infrastructure issues. Another infrastructure issue equally “out of sight and out of mind” is stormwater culverts. Culverts installed 30 to 50 years ago are now failing at an alarming rate. Thousands of corrugated metal culverts are so significantly rusted and deteriorated that flooding or collapsed roads are very real possibilities and scenarios. A collapsed culvert is potentially a much greater problem than a collapsed manhole, however. If that culvert is beneath a busy thoroughfare, traffic disruption could be significant and a dig and replace repair will be costly and time-consuming. A collapsed manhole can be bypassed with a pumping system and replaced in a few days. While clearly unpleasant, it pales

What are the Benefits of No-Dig Technology? The history of no-dig (trenchless) technology in the United States dates back to the mid-1970’s. OBIC’s owners have been in the no-dig business for nearly 20 years. It’s what we do. It’s how we think about wastewater rehabilitation. But just because we think that way doesn’t mean we shouldn’t slow down a little, review the basics, and “dig” into the benefits of no-dig technology. Instead of open cut excavation to gain access for repair or replacement of the structure, as the name suggests, no-dig allows for those repairs with minimal or no excavation. We’re all in the sewer business together and we do realize that there are those rare occasions when the host structure is too far gone and cannot be safely rehabilitated, making dig-and-replace the only viable solution. So outside of this situation, why do we think no-dig technology

Hidden Cost Savings with OBIC Wet Well Rehabilitation In previous blogs, we have talked about OBIC’S quick cure times providing a fast return to service. Where this benefit really manifests itself is the substantial cost savings provided for a wet well rehab project. A day in the life of a wet well rehabA typical 6’ diameter by 10’-20’ deep lift station can be fully relined by an OBIC certified installer in a single day. Depending on the circumstances, this can sometimes be done without bypassing. Below is a typical schedule for this type of wet well rehab project.8:00 a.m. OBIC certified installers isolate the station by plugging the upstream manhole. The wet well is then manually pumped down and a vac-truck is used to rinse the walls and remove any debris. 9:00 a.m. The lining technician enters the wet well and begins the surface preparation using the appropriate pressure washing

What Are The Pros And Cons Of Manhole Rehabilitation? Our team at OBIC has decades of experience in sewer system rehab, construction and operation. Our combined experience includes everything from collapsing sewer manholes to deteriorating pipes and everything in between. As a matter of fact, there is not much we haven’t seen, heard and rehabilitated. While we take pride in our accomplishments and enjoy telling stories of some of the most challenging projects we have tackled, we have also learned a lot over the years. It is that experience and knowledge that helps us to expertly mitigate the varying maintenance challenges facing our clients. Below is a summary of the two most common manhole rehab challenges that our installers face daily. Manhole rehab challenge #1: inflow & infiltration The first challenge that has a significant impact on manholes and sewer systems is inflow and infiltration. Although inflow and infiltration commonly

What Does Sewer System Inflow and Infiltration Mean? Our No-dig Sewer Rehab Solutions Can Help When groundwater or stormwater enters dedicated sanitary sewer systems, inflow & infiltration is occurring. Most inflow & infiltration, or I&I, is caused by aging infrastructure that includes manholes and sewer pipes. While this may seem like a hopeless, inevitable problem, there are steps that communities can take to protect their wastewater systems. Infiltration is when clean groundwater enters the sewer collection system. A great example of this is when heavy rain or snowmelt penetrates the ground and raises the groundwater level. That ground flow can infiltrate sewer pipes and manholes through cracks in the structure, missing or deteriorated gasket joints and leaky pipe penetrations. High water tables, or groundwater, is particularly common in coastal areas but also occurs in communities that are near lakes, rivers, ditches or wetlands. While seeping groundwater infiltration

Different Types Of Industrial Coatings And Their Applications In Latin, obic is the root word for barrier. When we founded our company in 2017, we couldn’t think of a better name for our products. Regardless of whether we are working on a manhole rehabilitation project, restoring an aging stormwater culvert or keeping drinking water safe with water treatment structure repairs, OBIC products are all designed to provide a long-lasting, cost-effective barrier of protection. Made of a flexible polymer that is environmentally friendly, OBIC coating systems are spray applied and cure in minutes. This makes them ideal for use in a variety of industries. Water Treatment and Distribution Drinking water distribution systems rely on metallic and concrete pipes, which are at risk for corrosion. As these systems age, concrete degradation or rust in metallic pipes begins to contaminate the drinking water that runs through them. With

What Are The Options For Manhole Hand-Injection Grouts? Underneath the streets of every city is a maze of sewer pipes, storm drains, manholes and pump stations that carry wastewater and stormwater through a strategically planned sewer system. These sewer systems are vital to protecting the environment and keeping our communities clean. Unfortunately, they are also deteriorating at a rate that is difficult for many communities to manage. According to infrastructurereportcard.org, the nation’s underground wastewater pipes are, on average, 45 years old with some systems exceeding 100 years. When you consider that the average life expectancy for these pipes is 50-100 years, it is no wonder that infiltration, or water leaking into the structure from the ground, has become a common and costly problem. Infiltration causes costly wastewater structure rehab challenges Wastewater infiltration is both a short-term and long-term problem. The short-term impact is easy to

Understanding The Difference Between Pump-Injected And Hand-Injected Grout For Wastewater Structure Rehabilitation Water and wastewater rehabilitation projects inevitably share one common challenge, infiltration issues. These are often leaks that are caused by cracks, missing mortar, deteriorated gaskets, pipe intrusions or a dozen other issues that allow groundwater to enter the structure. Unfortunately, once a leak occurs it will continue to worsen unless steps are taken to stop the infiltration of groundwater. At OBIC, we have earned a reputation for our industry-leading lining system that prevents infiltration from occurring. What is not so well known is that our lining system will not adhere to running water, so we first had to become experts in the science of stopping leaks. We went in search of grouts for wastewater rehabilitation that would allow us to stop even the toughest leaks. When we couldn’t find a product that met our expectations,

How Do You Rehab a Manhole? A Day In The Life Ever wondered about what the manhole rehabilitation process is like for OBIC certified installers? We had a camera crew follow Advanced Lining, an OBIC installer located in Utah, as they worked on a municipal manhole rehab in Moscow, Idaho. The city of Moscow had 17 aging manholes with groundwater infiltration issues. Although experienced in rehabilitation projects like this, the installation crew was challenged with an unusually cold October. They were also faced with a limited timeframe, as the project was in a residential neighborhood. Site Safety Before any rehabilitation work can begin, site safety takes priority. The crew will set up traffic cones and signs to keep the public separated from the work area. Confined space and fall protection equipment is set up on-site and employees don their personal protective equipment.

Are There ASTM Standards For Manhole Rehabilitation Methods? It is generally understood that the primary reasons for manhole rehabilitation are to stop inflow & infiltration, prevent hydrogen sulfide corrosion and restore structural integrity. At OBIC, we have talked extensively about inflow & infiltration as well as corrosion, but there seems to still be a lot of questions out there about how OBIC products help with structural issues. Two questions that we hear frequently are: What’s the definition of structural? What standard exists for manhole rehabilitation that defines structural? This blog post helps to answer those questions, but our team is always ready to discuss your unique manhole rehabilitation projects and questions. What standard exists for manhole rehabilitation that defines structural It is important to begin by explaining that there are no ASTM standards, structural or otherwise, for manhole rehabilitation methods. Not willing to settle, we did

Prevent Manhole Inflow And Infiltration Issues With These Tips From OBIC When was the last time you inspected your system’s manholes? If your answer is an awkward silence, you are not alone. Many municipalities face challenges with limited budgets and resources, so manhole inspections are often put on the backburner until a noticeable problem occurs. Unfortunately, this means that you could have a manhole that is leaking groundwater right now. Although you may not yet see the impact on operations, you could have a leak that looks like this. The cost of manhole leaks add up Even the smallest leak has costs that begin to multiply over time. For example, a manhole that leaks two gallons of groundwater per minute will send over 1 million gallons per year to the wastewater treatment plant. According to one case

What Is The Best Sewer System Coating? Everything You Need To Know About OBIC 1000 Every company believes its product is the best. Chevrolet believes their Silverado is better than Ford’s F-Series. Ford believes their F-Series is better than Dodge’s Ram, and the list goes on. The sewer lining coatings business is no different. When it comes to water and wastewater inflow/infiltration and corrosion issues there are a variety of options to choose from. Of course, only one rises to the top when it comes to long-lasting quality and a fast return on investment. It may come as no surprise that OBIC believes our spray applied OBIC 1000 is the most cost-effective and long-lasting product on the market. What may be surprising is that, after decades of working in the sewer structure rehabilitation industry, we don’t just believe it, we can prove it. Strong adhesion offers

Sewer Lining Products Are Just The Beginning – Here’s The Rest Of The Story At OBIC, we are passionate about our products. Some might even call us obsessive. We share product information on our website, give real-world application examples in our emails, and our sales team diligently discusses these benefits over the phone in a race to share OBIC products with our customers. Okay, that last part may be a slight exaggeration, but we really are excited to share the OBIC product advantage with everyone interested in water and wastewater system rehabilitation. That being said, our products are only the beginning. The rest of the story starts with our team of chemists and ends with our certified OBIC installers. Sewer lining repair solutions manufactured in an ISO 9001-2015 facility OBIC specializes in manufacturing products that provide a cost-effective approach to repairing sewer system inflow/infiltration and corrosion

What Chemical Grout Works Best For Sewer System Inflow And Infiltration? Manhole rehabilitation projects often involve brick and concrete structures that have cracks, missing or mortar deteriorated gaskets, pipe protrusions or other pathways allowing groundwater to enter. This is a common problem that occurs in manholes across the world, but one that causes a unique problem for OBIC installers. Although OBIC products are scientifically designed to stop sewer system inflow and infiltration issues, they will not adhere to running water. Specifically designed to stop leaks in water and wastewater structures Fortunately, OBIC offers a complete line of grout materials specifically designed for stopping leaks that occur in water and wastewater structures. The most common material used by OBIC installers for stopping leaks is polyurethane chemical grout. Polyurethane chemical grouts are usually injected under pressure as a liquid resin into or in the vicinity of the leak. Once

How Do OBIC Products Help Manhole Inflow And Infiltration Issues? The United States Environmental Protection Agency estimates that there are approximately 26 million manholes in the U.S. The majority of these structures are precast concrete manholes, cast in place concrete manholes and concrete block manholes, however, clay fired brick was a popular material used in the construction of manholes prior to the 1950s. A quick history lesson on precast concrete manholes In the post-World War II suburbia, young families in search of homes created a housing boom. Along with new homes, the rapid growth of communities began to make infrastructure a priority. Schools, community centers, churches, supermarkets, office buildings, industrial plants and shopping centers all required proper water and wastewater systems. In 1954, the Precast Concrete Institute was formed and precast manhole structures became the most cost-effective method for manhole construction. The high cost of labor

Polymer Sewer Lining Coatings Are Necessary To Protect Against These Types of Corrosion The need for polymer sewer lining coating When OBIC was founded, it was with the mission of providing a long-lasting, cost-effective barrier of protection for water and wastewater structures. Polymer coatings and lining systems have proven time and time again that they offer the best combination of price and performance for addressing sewer system inflow and infiltration issues. Our website and blog posts are filled with data and information to support this. If you are wondering why polymer sewer lining coatings are necessary in the first place, you have come to the right blog post. The following paragraphs give an overview of what causes sewer inflow and infiltration issues and why polymer coatings are needed in the first place. Most common issues that make sewer lining repairs necessary The two most common

4 Misconceptions Of Polymers And Wastewater Structure Rehabilitation You Should Know Energy Efficiency in Water and Wastewater Facilities Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, water and wastewater treatment facilities are humming with the sound of pumps and motors working to provide the community with clean water. Wastewater plants and drinking water systems can account for up to one-third of a municipality’s total energy bill (EPA 2009). These facilities represent a significant portion of controllable energy usage and offer opportunities for cost-effective investments in energy-efficient technologies. Energy efficiency measures in water and wastewater facilities can deal with the installation of energy-efficient equipment and also the adoption of improved processes. Pumping requires much of the energy used for treating and delivering drinking water and for transporting wastewater to and through the treatment plant. Installing a new, more efficient pumping system and adding new controls and sensors that

4 Misconceptions Of Polymers And Wastewater Structure Rehabilitation You Should Know The Facts About Polymers and Wastewater Structure Rehabilitation At OBIC, we don’t hesitate to share the benefits of polymer lining systems for wastewater structure rehabilitation. As a matter of fact, you might say that we have made it our mission. Over the years, we have seen the good, bad and ugly of everything from manhole rehab projects to sewer lining repair, and we can say without a doubt that manholes, lift stations, treatment plant facilities and stormwater structures have all benefitted by coating or rehabilitating with a polymer lining system. These systems are installed with minimal service interruptions and can increase the life of the structure by 50+ years, making polymer lining systems an ideal solution when your priority is saving time and money. A few additional benefits that may interest you include: Prevention of corrosion

How Does Manhole Rehabilitation Benefit Communities And Budgets? If corrosion and infiltration issues are affecting your wastewater system, you have likely spent many hours combing through budgets and researching options. Fortunately, advancements in spray-applied polyurea lining systems mean that there are effective and affordable options for even the most daunting sewer repair projects. OBIC sewer lining repair systems are proven effective and have a faster return on investment than other options on the market. To illustrate the benefits of OBIC, we compiled an example of the impact one manhole rehabilitation can have on a small to medium-sized municipality. OBIC manhole rehab case study A municipality has one leaking manhole with groundwater infiltration. The manhole is 9’ deep and is leaking 2 gallons of groundwater per minute. Although that may not seem like a lot, the impact quickly multiplies. 2 gallons/minute x 1,440 minutes/day x 365 days/year =

What Is Polyurea? All The Info You Need To Know Ever wondered what makes OBIC coating systems one of the most cost-effective, long-lasting solutions for the maintenance and rehabilitation of everything from manholes to tank linings? It is the result of extensive research, development and testing of polyurea chemistry. Uniquely designed to meet the demands of water and wastewater systems, OBIC polyurea products have numerous benefits including: They can be spray applied in various environmental conditions They are fast setting, requiring minimal downtime They are designed to maintain excellent abrasion and chemical resistance They can be customized to meet the unique needs of the structure They are environmentally friendly OBIC’s polyurea products are manufactured in an ISO 9001-2015 certified facility. Each specific product is formulated to maximize its performance based upon the particular application of drinking water, wastewater, stormwater or industrial use. The History of Polyurea Polyurea

How Do OBIC Products Address Needs of Culvert Lining, Manhole Lining, and Water/Sewer Lining? At OBIC, consistency is a word we say frequently. After all, our customers depend on consistent quality and services for all of their wastewater rehabilitation needs. What keeps our jobs interesting is that, though our products are predictably effective and long-lasting, no two jobs are ever the same. A municipal and industrial water and wastewater systems maintenance company, OBIC specializes in providing an alternative approach to everything from wastewater structure rehabilitation to potable water tank rehabilitation. Made of a flexible polymer that is environmentally friendly, OBIC coating systems are spray applied, making them ideal for structures of all shapes and sizes. Additionally, unlike alternative rigid products, OBIC’s flexible polymers won’t crack under the pressure of temperature changes or heavy traffic. Wastewater Manhole Rehabilitation The United States Environmental Protection Agency estimates that there are

What Are The Challenges Of Wastewater Rehabilitation? Aging sewer infrastructure is a problem facing the entire country. Systems put in place decades ago are beginning to deteriorate and become inefficient. For a long time, this was a major problem for cash strapped municipalities that did not have the budget for a total reconstruction of their damaged systems. Today, there are effective alternatives to total reconstruction that will rehabilitate damaged wastewater systems and extend the life of the structure by 50 years or longer. Advanced polyurea coatings are cost-effective and “designed to create highly elastic waterproof coating and lining systems that are resistant to chemicals and abrasions,” according to an article written by WaterWorld. The article goes on to say that “they are ideal linings for immersed surfaces and will resist hydrogen sulfide.” With the advancement in polyurea coating options to rehabilitate wastewater systems, it is easier than

OBIC Chemists Ensure Quality In No-Dig Sewer Rehab Technology At OBIC, we recognize that our customers have different needs and challenges. Our lining system must rise to the challenge of rehabilitating and protecting water and wastewater systems in a variety of unique and often harsh environments. Cookie cutter solutions do not always work for every customer. That is why the OBIC manufacturing facility employs 10 in-house chemists who are familiar with OBIC products and customer expectations. These chemists have decades of experience in the polyurethane and polyurea industry, allowing them to expertly evaluate specific application requirements for each customer. Below is an overview of the team’s qualification. Lab and quality manager with 30+ years of experience in the polyurethane and polyurea industry. Lab chemist with 10+ years in polyurethane and polyurea industry. Lab chemist with 4+ years in the polyurethane and polyurea industry. Technical manager with a

Why Is Advanced Polyurea Wastewater Structure Coating The Best Solution For Aging Infrastructure? As much of our nation’s wastewater and sewer infrastructure continues to age, the demand for a high quality, affordable solution to infiltration and corrosion issues is on the rise.  Historically, wastewater structure rehabilitation has been a cumbersome and costly endeavor. Pump station rehabilitation, for example, once required digging up and replacing entire structures. Not only did this disrupt service for long periods of time, it would often result in road closures and safety concerns. Fortunately, advanced polyurea coatings provide a solution to this age-old problem. “Polyurea coatings and liners provide numerous benefits when it comes to the maintenance and repair of wastewater structures,” said Dustin Schlachter, CEO of OBIC. “The coatings are spray applied, which means they can be used on any configuration, and they are flexible enough to withstand the demands of the

Expanding Our Market One "OBIC Advantage" At A Time Across the country, businesses in the water and wastewater systems maintenance industry are making the decision to install OBIC products. Backed by a team of chemists, and supported by third party, independent testing, OBIC products offer a competitive advantage that is unmatched in the industry. Of course, nothing speaks louder than the testimonial of a satisfied customer. Recently, OBIC’s flagship installer, Advanced Rehabilitation Technology explained to their customers why they have chosen to make the switch to OBIC products. We thought the letter said it best, and have shared it letter below. Dear Customer: We are excited to announce that Advanced Rehabilitation Technology has made a change to the products that we install, and are sending this letter to inform you of how this change will benefit all of our current and future customers. Advanced Rehabilitation Technology

Eco-friendly Wastewater Structure Rehabilitation Meets Demand of Severe Wastewater Analysis Test Conservation strategies create new challenges for wastewater systems Eco-friendly products and services with a focus on conserving our natural resources are an emerging trend across the world. The water and wastewater industries are no exception to this global trend. Conservations strategies that have been implemented to protect vital groundwater reservoir supplies have proven beneficial, however, they are not without their challenges. The old joke – “the solution to pollution is dilution” actually helps to explain what is happening. Reduced flow results in increased holding time in the collection system. This leads to increased microbial action, and therefore enhances corrosive activity. High-performance protective coatings rise to the challenge As a cost-effective solution to water and wastewater rehabilitation, high-performance, spray applied coating systems were developed. A long-held belief was that these coatings, although affordable, could not hold up