Why and When Should You Perform a CCTV Sewer Inspection?

Maintaining the health and integrity of your sewer systems is critical to avoiding expensive and damaging issues, such as flooding and pipe collapse. But these systems, particular the pipes under the street, are difficult to monitor by nature of them being sealed and often hidden under other infrastructure. But that’s where a CCTV sewer inspection can make a world of difference.

That in mind, let’s dive into what a CCTV sewer inspection entails, and how it can help you avoid flooding and other sewage-related issues.

What Is a CCTV Sewer Inspection?

CCTV stands for closed circuit television video. Essentially, it’s the process of using a camera to provide a direct and private feed of whatever is being filmed.

In the context of sewer inspection services, you can leverage a CCTV inspection to see into public pipes, allowing you to proactively identify issues in your sewer system, so that you can address them before they get out of control.

Much like when a doctor needs to see inside the body of a patient but would rather avoid invasive maneuvers, sewer camera inspection services have the exact same function.

Your sewer inspection services provider will use sophisticated, remotely controlled cameras that will be inserted into the sewer system, providing a clear picture of everything that’s taking place inside the piping.

When Should You Have a Sewer Inspection?

Your piping and sewage systems should be sturdy (though not all are installed correctly), but even the most perfectly installed pipes are susceptible to damage and threats.

Your camera will be able to identify:

• Root intrusion
• Damage from ground movement
• Cracks in your piping
• Offset joint pipes
• Corrosion
• Deterioration
• Blockages
• Issues due to poor installation
• Inflow and Infiltration (I&I)
• And more

As for the “when”, that all depends on the age of your sewer system and if there have been issues lately. But generally, it’s good practice to establish a routine inspection schedule and stick to it, rather than let any of the issues above get out of hand, causing potentially massive and expensive damage.

Benefits of CCTV Sewer Inspections

Cost-Effective Option 

Like in health, catching problems early can save you a lot of time, effort, and money. Identifying small issues that have yet to grow severe allows for your sewer maintenance to get in and fix these smaller problems, often for very affordable prices, before they get out of hand and you need total reworking of your piping, or worse yet, you face a collapse or flood. 

Environmentally Friendly 

The insertion of the camera is quick and easy. That means no digging, tearing, wrecking, etc. So, no disruption to surrounding businesses, and no disruption to the earth. 

Provides Accurate Data

You’ll see firsthand any issues that are impacting your piping and be able to solve them fast. In other words, if there’s an issue in your piping—no matter how insignificant—a CCTV sewer inspection should be able to find it. In addition, you’ll get rapid reporting with GIS-based outputs for easy review and assimilation into larger documents. 

Saves Time and Effort

With a CCTV sewer inspection, you can avoid expensive infrastructure upgrades and costs. It’s important to remember that when you have your pipes replaced, that can mean part—or the entirety—of the street will need to be shut down. You don’t want to have to deal with that. And with routine CCTV sewer inspection, you likely won’t have to well ahead of the lifecycle of the infrastructure.

Valuable Inspections

Working with a reputable consultant who has extensive industry knowledge and is recognized as the leader in Municipal I/I reduction programs will provide you with unique and valuable data during various weather conditions, including wet weather, so you can identify inflow and infiltration when it is happening. Look for a consultant that has NASSCO-certified operators and inspections according to PACP and MACP standards.

Contact Civica to Get Municipal Sewer Inspection Services in Toronto and the GTA 

If you’re in need of private or municipal sewer inspection, don’t wait to reach out—every lost minute can potentially bring you closer to a serious issue.

Civica is an industry leader in wastewater and stormwater management consulting services. We provide guidance and actionable solutions to local and regional municipalities, conservation authorities, provincial government agencies, land developers, and other civil engineering consulting firms to address various issues associated with collection systems and drainage capacity management.

We use the latest in sewer inspection and cleaning technology to ensure your pipes are in top shape. With us, you’ll have access to:

• Full flush and cleaning of sewers
• State-of-the-art robotics for pipe inspection
• In-house field activities (no more juggling multiple companies)
• Custom-tailored software for your municipality or business
• And more

Get in touch with us today to learn more about our sewer flow monitoring services and CCTV inspection services in Toronto and the GTA.