Installer Spotlight: Midwest Infrastructure Coatings LLC OBIC is excited to introduce Midwest Infrastructure Coatings LLC as the newest member of our installer network. Based in Missouri, their service area includes Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Kansas.A family-owned business, Midwest Infrastructure Coatings is owned and operated by Bryon Baker and his son Kolby. “We are a small, grassroots company that started from nothing more than a truck, a wheelbarrow and a bucket of tools,” said Bryon. “As we have grown, we have established a solid reputation with our customers. They know that we are committed to offering the highest level of products and services on every job.”That commitment to quality and customer service is what drew them to OBIC. “We are working on infrastructure, and it is essential that we have a long-lasting product that can withstand the harsh environment of wastewater systems,” said Bryon. “The 10-year warranty offered on OBIC products shows that they are confident in their product and reinforces our confidence as OBIC installers.” Sewer lining repair vital with aging infrastructuresAging sewer infrastructure is a problem that is affecting nations across the world, and Midwest Infrastructure Coatings’ service area is no exception. Systems put in place

Causes 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 problems affecting sanitary sewer structures are groundwater infiltration and deterioration caused by corrosion. Infiltration is relatively easy to understand.  Corrosion, on the other hand, is slightly more complicated. Ultimately, there are two main culprits to corrosion. The first one is hydrogen-sulfide; the second one is microbially induced corrosion (MIC). Hydrogen-sulfide corrosion (H2S) will always be a problem Hydrogen-sulfide

Save Energy and Money 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 improve automation can produce energy savings by approximately 20 percent. Energy is embedded not only in the water and wastewater treatment plants but throughout the pipe systems as well. For example, leaking pipes for drinking water require more energy in order to deliver water to the end-user. Likewise, manholes and sewer pipes that are leaking groundwater into

Polymer Misconceptions 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 to the structure Protection from chemical attacks the structure Resistance to abrasion Quick curing that results in a faster return to service 10-year warranty included 50-year design life Clearing up a few misconceptions With that list of proven benefits, what’s not to like about polymer lining systems? Unfortunately, there are a few misconceptions out there that cause some in

Union Terminal Fountain: More Than Meets The Eye When people come to visit a his-toric landmark, it’s all about the visual experience. They want to see what things looked like “back then,” to get a feel for life in its original historic period. When Cincinnati’s historic Union Terminal water fountain required a critical waterproofing membrane solution for the long-term preservation of its unique raw terrazzo cladding, a new polyurea coating from OBIC Products was chosen to ensure the structure would remain intact and per-form beautifully for generations to come.Preserving an Art Deco TreasureCincinnati’s Union Terminal, one of the last great American train stations, was built in the Art Deco style so prevalent in the 1920s and ‘30s. Since its opening in 1933, the National Historic Landmark has had a long and storied history, from welcoming soldiers home from World War II to becoming the home of three museums, an OMNIMAX® Theater and the Cincinnati History Library and Archives.Read the Whitepaper >

OBIC Sewer Lining repair offers faster ROI 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 = 1,051,200 gallons per year The average cost to treat 1,000 gallons of wastewater is $1.75. With groundwater leaking into the wastewater system, that is a lot of money going down the drain. 1,051,200 gallons/year ÷ 1,000 x $1.75 = $1,839.60 If the municipality were to leave the leaking manhole unaddressed, they

Manhole Rehabilitation in Menallen Township Menallen Township, located in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, is rich in history. Formed in 1783, the township is home to a National Historic Landmark, the Searights Tollhouse. Remnants of a once booming coal industry can also be found throughout the landscape of the township.  While these nostalgic reminders of history add to the township’s tourism, there was one historical structure that was only causing problems. Beneath the surface of Menallen Township was an aging sewer system in desperate need of repair. According to Sam McVicker of K2 Engineering Inc. and Menallen Township Sewage Authority Engineer, stormwater infiltration was causing treatment plant overloads. As the problem continued to worsen, McVicker began the search for an affordable and effective manhole rehabilitation solution for the township. After thorough research, McVicker chose to pursue a spray-applied lining system for the manhole rehab project. “The main focus of the project was time and cost savings,” said McVicker. He chose Advanced Rehabilitation Technology, an OBIC certified installer to lead the manhole repair efforts. “The benefits of a spray-applied lining system for manhole rehabilitation are numerous,” said Rusty Hesselschwardt, business development at ART. “OBIC lining systems have been proven to

History of Polyurea 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 can be described as an advancement of polymer chemistry based upon the earlier chemical family of polyurethanes. This later technology, known as polyurea, is a plural component elastomer system that is used for coating, casting and sealing materials. Plural component elastomer systems have been understood for decades. Actually, the reactions forming the basis of polymers was discovered

No Two Jobs are the Same 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.WastewaterManhole RehabilitationThe United States Environmental Protection Agency estimates that there are 26 million manholes in the U.S. These manholes vary in age, construction and deterioration. Some examples of this variation includeMaterialsPrecast concreteCast-in-place concreteBrickConcrete blockStoneSize and shapeVarious diameters: 3’, 4’, 6’, 7’, 8’Various depths: some more than 100’ deepVarious shapes: round, oblong, rectangle, bell-shaped, offset cones, eccentric conesCharacteristicsWith and without stepsPipe protrusionsDrop bowlsWith and without benchesSurcharged manholesGravity flow manholesWastewater Treatment PlantsThe American Society of Civil Engineers

Case Study: Bay City Manhole Rehabilitation Bay City, Michigan, located near the state’s eastern shoreline, is a destination for vacationers interested in everything from antiquing to fishing and sailing. While the beauty of this historic city is unmistakable, its age was becoming apparent in the deteriorating condition of its sewer system. Similar to many municipalities across the country, Bay City’s manhole structures were made of brick, block and precast structures that varied in age. Over time, in some cases more than 50 years, leaks and deterioration began to jeopardize their structural integrity. In an effort to address these issues quickly and efficiently, an OBIC certified installer was called in to rehabilitate 170 of the city’s aging manholes. The Challenge The manhole structures in Bay City varied in age and condition. They were also once a combined system, which meant that some of the manholes had atypical shapes. As a result, each and every manhole presented different circumstances that influenced the preparation and installation of the OBIC Armor lining systems. In addition to the varying shape and condition of the structures, the manholes were spread across all areas of the municipality. The OBIC installers would need to adapt