Water and Sewer

Michael Wheeler

Market Segment Leader - Water/Wastewater

michael.wheeler@gprsinc.com 470-553-4874

With the domestic spend on water and wastewater approaching $40B annually, the amount water and sewer infrastructure in place is staggering. As water and sewer infrastructure is being added to an already complex grid, there is an aging segment of these pipes and facilities that are in great need of replacement and repair.

The water sector of infrastructure is in dire need of an investment as it relates to the replacement and repair of these facilities and pipes. According to the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) in their landmark report, the 2017 Infrastructure Report Card, the US has received a “D” rating for potable water piping. There are approximately 1,000,000 miles of potable water piping across the country. It is estimated that over 240,000 water mains break per year and with many of these pipes having been installed many decades ago, upgrades must be implemented. The American Water Works Association estimates $1 trillion are needed to maintain and expand water service to the nation in the near future.

Wastewater infrastructure also presents a challenge as it ages past its useful lifespan. With approximately 16,000 wastewater treatment plants across the country, it is essential to ensure that these facilities are able to keep up with the growth experienced in our country. Millions of new users will be connected to these plants over the next few decades. New infrastructure is needed to meet this demand. Further, the increase in demand for wastewater treatment places an enormous strain on existing facilities. As it relates to our wastewater facilities, the ASCE Report also gave this sector a ‘D+’ grade. Along with the aging infrastructure in the potable water and wastewater treatment sectors, our nation’s sewer pipes are in need of upgrades, maintenance, repair and in some cases replacement. With advancements in the utility industry’s ability to install new fiber lines and other utilities via directional drilling, risk has increased when it comes to dangerous cross bores. Pre and post inspections are needed and are being required on a larger scale across America.

‍

GPRS Utility Locating and 3D Laser Scanning Services for Water and Sewer Infrastructure — Projects are complex, the careful selection of business partners is imperative. GPRS has become a trusted partner to hundreds of clients for utility locating, concrete scanning, 3D laser scanning, video pipe inspection, and leak detection services.

‍

GPRS Delivers Complete Infrastructure Visualization

‍GPRS is the only company in the U.S. that can capture your entire site or facility, above and below-ground, to provide you with accurate as-builts, private and public utility maps, 2D CAD drawings, 3D BIM models, virtual tours, WinCan reports, and more documenting architectural, structural, MEP, and subsurface utility existing conditions, and instantly deliver data via SiteMap^®, GPRS’ cloud-based digital storage software and app.

Utility Locating Services

GPRS utility locating service utilizes ground penetrating radar (GPR) and electromagnetic (EM) locating technology to locate, mark, and map existing underground infrastructure such as power lines, gas lines, pipelines, water lines, sewer lines, potential voids, and additional buried facilities and utility lines. This information is critical for projects where construction or excavation activities are planned to mitigate accidental utility strikes, plus keep your team and facility safe. GPRS delivers complimentary CAD utility site maps in PDF, KMZ, and SHP file formats, and can export your utility data into a wide variety of drawings, maps, and models to advance communication and collaboration on your project. ‍All clients receive instant access to complete and aggregated site records in Sitemap^® GPRS’ digital storage software and app, where data is geolocated, layered, and securely shareable.

Concrete Scanning Services

Concrete scanning is a non-destructive method to assess concrete using GPR to locate, identify, and mark utilities and objects such as rebar, post tension cables, beams, conduits, and piping embedded within concrete slabs and structures prior to anchoring, cutting, coring, and drilling. Concrete scanning ensures the safety of workers and prevents accidents by identifying potential hazards before any work occurs. Concrete markings can be 3D laser scanned to create a permanent record of the site, data can be delivered in 2D CAD drawings, 3D BIM models, and virtual site tours.

3D Laser Scanning Services

GPRS 3D laser scanning services document the exact architectural, structural, and MEP system layout and dimensions of existing buildings, facilities, and sites. We have captured as built site conditions for water treatment plants and wastewater treatment plants from 40 MGD to 1 BGD, documenting the interior and exterior of buildings; foundations; structural, mechanical, electrical and plumbing features; equipment, motors, conduit and piping down to ½ inch diameter. GPRS Project Managers use industry-leading Leica survey-grade laser scanners to capture 2-4 millimeter accurate existing site conditions in the form of a point cloud. Our in-house Mapping & Modeling Team can transform those point clouds into customized 2D CAD drawings, 3D BIM models, 3D mesh models, TruViews, and 3D virtual tours at any level of detail for visualization, analysis, design, construction, renovation, prefabrication, and facility modifications. We work directly with municipalities, engineering firms and privately owned facilities.

Our 3D Laser Scanning Experience Includes:

Water Treatment Plants
Wastewater Treatment Plants
Water Distribution Systems
Pumping Stations
Elevated and Digester Tanks
Pipe Galleries
Filter Pump Rooms
Sedimentary Basins
Flocculation Basins
Large Format Pipe Runs
Water Purification Systems
Polymer Rooms

Video Pipe Inspection Services

Video Sewer inspection and Video pipe inspection are great ways to determine if a pipe needs to be repaired or completely replaced. GPRS Video Pipe Inspection Services can inspect water and sewer pipes with our video crawler cameras (CCTV), inspect previously hidden sewer lateral lines via our lateral launch cameras, map complete pipe and sewer systems, and provide detailed NASSCO reports on the interior condition of pipes. Our arsenal even includes push cameras for hard to reach and smaller pipes. Cross bore mitigation and discovery is a key benefit to using a GPRS VPI service. The GPRS VPI team is fully equipped with video pipe inspection equipment and ready to service/inspect your water and sewer utility project, nationwide. When our Video Pipe Inspection team is paired with our industry-leading utility locating services, there is not a more comprehensive solution available.

Leak Detection Services

GPRS specializes in all types of leak detection services, including municipal, industrial, and residential. Our Project Managers are leak detection specialists who utilize multiple technologies to locate your leak and the expertise to map and provide many other insights into your water distribution and/or fire suppression systems. GPRS does this by utilizing a variety of equipment paired with our industry-leading SIM (Subsurface Investigation Methodology) processes. The equipment and methods used include acoustic leak detectors, leak noise correlators, video pipe inspection (CCTV) cameras & sondes, ground penetrating radar, and electromagnetic locating, among others.

‍

Schedule a Service

Request a Quote

No items found.

Let's Get To Work
Schedule A Project

Michael Wheeler

Market Segment Leader - Water/Wastewater

michael.wheeler@gprsinc.com 470-553-4874

Book A Meeting With Me

Download PDF

CUSTOM SERVICE PLANS

Rather than send a rigid rate sheet to prospective clients, GPRS can create a customized service plan. We take into account our industry experience, national footprint, and operational/scheduling capacity to craft a customized plan just for you.

Scheduling

With one single point of contact for your company, GPRS can schedule underground utility locating, 3D laser scanning, concrete scanning, video pipe inspection, and void detection services for your site with a simple phone call. There is no need to call multiple service providers across a region or nationally. GPRS has Project Managers in every major market in the US and our single point of contact will simplify your scheduling process.

Pricing

GPRS understands that clear, understandable, and consistent pricing is a big deal. Our nationwide footprint allows us to streamline our costs on a nationwide basis. We are sure to craft a cost structure that makes sense for the scope of work. Rather than send a blanket rate sheet, we consultatively compose pricing plans for each project.

Approach

Every campus, site, and facility pose different challenges. Since our inception, GPRS has completed hundreds of thousands of projects and relies on that experience when crafting a site-specific plan for safety, scanning, and reporting. With the SIM Specification as our guide, we will craft an individualized approach to each and every project. We Intelligently Visualize The Built World^® from facility mapping to utility locating prior to excavation, and will perform the right service for your scope of work.

Mapping and modeling - GPRS - Ground Penetrating Radar

mapping & Modeling

GPRS improves project planning and communication by providing clear and understandable maps and models to help you Visualize The Built World^® and share your vision with subcontractors, designers, engineers, and others, easily.

GPRS delivers the most up-to-date, accurate and comprehensive site data possible in the format required for your project. We provide complimentary KMZ and PDF maps with every utility locate we perform. Our Mapping & Modeling Team can create a wide variety of customizable maps and models, from a simple GPS-enabled map of your utility locate, to highly-detailed 2D CAD drawings and 3D BIM models, depending on your needs.

AS BUILT DRAWINGS

Existing drawings don't always show the current conditions of a site. Drawings that are produced in the design phase of a project don't always reflect the exact location of the underground utilities and current as built site conditions. Renovations, repairs, and additions can all render as built drawings out of date. The GPRS Mapping & Modeling Team can deliver up-to-date as built drawings that reflect the actual vertical and horizontal position of underground facilities & features, and structural, architectural, and MEP site details.

2D MAPS & 3D MODELS

Utility locates, concrete scanning, and 3D laser scan data can be processed into up-to-date 2D maps and 3D models to ensure that your team has all the information you need to get the job done right. These maps and models provide an accurate record of utility locations and as-builts for project planning.

The GPRS Mapping & Modeling Team will deliver point cloud data, 2D CAD drawings, 3D BIM models, 3D meshes, TruViews, and virtual tours produced with the highest quality standards. We provide high-precision custom analysis and calculations such as dimensional callouts, tank calibration analysis, floor flatness and levelness analysis, deviation analysis, deformation analysis, volume calculations, wall plumb analysis, and more.

Maps, models, and analyses are produced and hosted for your use at any level of detail in a variety of formats such as Revit, AutoCAD, ReCap, Navisworks, Civil 3D, BIM360, A360, Bentley, Leica Cyclone, Cintoo, NavVis Ivion, and more. The GPRS Mapping & Modeling Team has optimized workflows for importing data, registration, creating maps and models, quality checks, and transferring data to clients. We deliver the data you need in the format you need to access up-to-date and accurate facility and infrastructure information.

SITEMAP^® MOBILE APP

When we conduct an underground utility locate, GPRS stores all subsurface infrastructure data in SiteMap^®, a secure digital platform that houses all your utility locate PDF and KMZ files. You can access your data from any laptop or mobile device and securely share it with your team. Within your files, you will find interactive subsurface maps, annotations, and more, where you can toggle layers and lines on or off to streamline information and communicate only the data you need. You can even measure site features and segment maps geographically to drill down to specific project points for prefabrication or excavation needs.
‍

GPRS Project Managers can complete multiple mobilizations to a jobsite – before, during and after construction – to record subsurface and as built data in real-time. The data captured can be tied together into living maps and models and saved into a database for reference.

How can GPRS can help you streamline your next project to Intelligently Visualize Your Built World^®?

One Call Program

GPRS exceeds industry performance when it comes to the accuracy of our utility locating. Our team of Project Managers can continue the support of your project by crafting a one-call program from when your project transitions to the O&M phase.

Public Property

Damage prevention is critical when excavating in a public right-of-way. Using the 811, call before you dig system, is an essential step to take when trying to avoid underground utility strikes. It's the law! GPRS is able to contract and perform one-call type utility locating for your underground assets.

Private Property

A utility locate on private property is not complete until a private utility locator like GPRS has been called to comprehensively locate the entire campus. GPRS can create a one-call type program for your facility or campus in the case that you have utilities that lie within public property.

Embedment

Our highly trained Project Managers have extensive experience locating conduits, rebar, cables, pipes, ducts, sleeves, and other hazards embedded in concrete slabs and other structures with ground penetrating radar technology. Cutting, coring, or drilling into these objects can cause damage to utilities and jeopardize the health and safety of workers on site.

CASE STUDY

Video Pipe Inspection to locate any possible unknown Lateral lines in Clinton Township Michigan

Before demolition began at a local hospital the General Contractor wanted to know if there were any unknown tie-ins to the facility’s sanitary sewer lines that were not on drawings. The Ground Penetrating Radar Systems Video Pipe Inspection Division was contacted to mobilize and inspect all sanitary and storm sewer lines in the area of demolition before an addition was to be added on to the hospital.

The client wanted to avoid any delays created by uncovering unknown sewer lines and water pipes. GPRS VPI division worked alongside our Ground Penetrating Radar division to provide an entire utility layout of the central and surrounding areas. While inspecting one sanitation line, our robotic crawler discovered two unknown taps on one of the pipes. These taps were located approximately 8.5’ beyond the range of detection for Ground Penetrating Radar; if Video Pipe Inspection had not been completed, these taps would not have been discovered until demolition - which could have resulted in further delays and/or possible damage. While inspecting the rest of the sewer and water pipes, the GPRS Video Pipe Inspection Project Manager was able to locate several areas of concern along the main sanitary line which can now be addressed during construction to avoid further issues.

After inspection, GPRS was able to locate the sanitary and storm lines on the surface for the client. In addition, GPRS was able to collect points with our GPS system to add onto a Google earth map for reference which makes future demolition projects much easier to navigate for the client. GPRS was able to utilize our Envirosight Rover X crawler, Vivax EM locating equipment, and our Geode GPS location equipment for the map. After the inspection was complete, the client was very satisfied with the results and noted how our Pipe Inspection Services saved the company from possible delays and unknown cost by locating these unknown sewer lateral lines. GPRS has the ability to inspect, locate, GPS and provide CAD drawings for all of your company’s pipe inspection needs.