Sanitary Sewer Acoustic Assessment Project

• Project typeSanitary Sewer
• Project statusProject has been awarded to RH Borden
• StartMid April
• CompletionEight weeks

The Littleton Public Works Department is planning an inspection project of its sanitary sewer pipes and manholes. The city is responsible for maintaining approximately 129 miles of sanitary sewer pipes and more than 3,300 sanitary sewer manholes. 

RH Borden has been hired to perform an "acoustic inspection" of Littleton's sanitary sewer lines and manholes, using sound to characterize the flow capacity of pipes based upon how much sound can travel through the pipe. The more sound that can travel through the pipe  more capacity within the pipe. This type of acoustic assessment will enable the city's utility managers to transition from a rotational maintenance approach to a condition-based approach.

Each pipe inspected will be given a score from 0 to 10:

• Blocked = 0
• Poor = 1 to 3
• Fair = 4 to 6
• Good = 7 to 10

Once data is collected it will be uploaded to the city's asset management system where it can be easily evaluated and direct the maintenance program for the year.

What to expect

The project is expected to start in mid April and be completed in approximately 8 weeks. RH Borden employees and vehicles, which are clearly marked, will be working on manholes in city neighborhoods. Sound waves will be sent from a transmitter in one manhole to a receiver in a nearby manhole using a sewer line rapid assessment tool to compute the capacity of the sewer line. These sound waves can be heard outside the manhole; however, the city does not anticipate the sound to be loud or disruptive.

If a manhole is located on private property, the city will contact the property owner or resident to arrange for access.

For questions, contact the Utility Divisions Operations Manger at 303-748-5888 or the Deputy Director of Public Works and Utilities at 303-795-3806.

Contact details