Roots in Sanitary Sewer Collection Systems Survey

Introduction

 

The Water Environment Research Federation (WERF) is funding a study of the effects of root intrusion on collection systems.  The study team includes North Carolina State University (NCSU); the Town of Cary, NC; Southern Illinois University; Duke’s Root Control, Inc., and Solutions-IES.  The study’s objective is to identify the most detrimental tree roots to centralized and decentralized systems, and determine the best control methods while considering environmental effects.

 

This survey asks a series of questions related to your collection system characteristics and the nature of problems associated with root intrusion. The survey is an important component of the information that will be generated in this two-year study.   The number of responses that are received will directly affect the quality of the project.  Therefore, your effort to complete this survey as accurately as possible will be greatly appreciated by the project team and will ultimately affect the information that will be available to the community of collection system managers once the study is completed.

 

Information on this study will be periodically posted on the project website.  You can find out more by visiting www.ce.ncsu.edu/research/frog. 

 

Instructions for Completion

 

Section 1.0 requests general information on your collection system and contact information for the managing agency.  Section 2.0 requests information on areas of your system that are problematic due to root intrusion.  Section 3.0 requests your future cooperation in providing an actual sample of a root mass from a problem area, and a contact for providing follow-up information.

 

To complete this survey electronically, either select the correct response or enter additional information in the space provided on the form.  When you are finished with your responses, simply click on “Submit Now” and we will receive it.

 

If you choose, you may also print this form [click here for PDF], complete it, and send it via regular mail or FAX to the contact information below.  You may also use the contact information below to ask questions you may have about completing the survey.

 

Solutions-IES

1101 Nowell Road

Raleigh, NC  27607

RE: WERF Study

Telephone: (919) 873-1060

Facsimile: (919) 873-1074

Ask for Barbara Oslund or Heather Markell

 

Thank you for your valuable contribution to this study.

 

 

Survey

Fields marked (*) are required  

Name and address of Municipality/Sewer Authority or District, or Commission
Name*
Address*
EPA Region

Name of person completing survey
Name*
Title
Phone*
E-Mail*

1. General System Information

a. Approximate age of system

b. Does the system carry combined sanitary wastes and stormwater (other than inflow and      

    infiltration)?

Yes No UnknownPartially: percent combined %

 

c. Do you have  dedicated easements for portions of the system on private property?

Yes No UnknownPartially: percent dedicated %

 

d. Do you have an easement maintenance program?

Yes No UnknownPartially: percent maintained %

Please describe the easement maintenance program:

e. Seasonal temperature variation of sewer (check with WWTP for influent temperature data)

Quarterly average:

 
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall 

f. Construction material of sanitary sewer piping
Ductile Iron  
   What percent of your system is of this material? %
PVC  (indicate schedule and type)
  What percent of your system is of this material? %
Truss   
  What percent of your system is of this material? %
Clay  
  What percent of your system is of this material? %
Reinforced Concrete   
  What percent of your system is of this material? %
Asbestos lined  
  What percent of your system is of this material? %
 Other  
  What percent of your system is of this material? %

2. Root Intrusion Information

a. Is a root intrusion prevention program in place?

Yes No

If so, please describe:

b. Treatments used to clear root intrusions:

chemical

mechanical

combination

  other [please list type(s)]

Please describe the treatment(s) & their effectiveness:

c. What types of trees/ bushes are growing within:

5-10 feet of the sanitary sewer

15 feet of the sanitary sewer

30 feet of the sanitary sewer

Which of these types of trees/bushes are most commonly intruding into the system:

d. Please consider the following situations where heavy root intrusion or obstruction of sewer lines might occur.  In your experience, how would you categorize the frequency of occurrence:

  Very Uncommon Uncommon Neutral Common Very Common

Trees in lawn near affected pipes

 		         

Natural woods/forest near affected pipes

 		         

Sewer line <10 years old

 		         

Sewer line 10-25 years old

 		         

Sewer line 25-50 years old

 		         
Sewer line >50 years old          

Exceptionally large trees nearby

 		         

Other nearby sewer lines also affected

 		         

Species of tree growing nearby is particularly aggressive at infiltrating sewers

 		         

Subsurface movements caused breaks in the pipes & joints making them prone to root obstruction

 		         

Other situations you frequently associated with the problem

Specific type of sewer pipe

         

Other

 		         

3. Follow-up information

Would you be willing to collect/send a sample from a typical root mass intrusion impacting the system?

Yes No

Unable to do so

Alternate contact able to assist

Name
Phone 
E-Mail

Please print a copy of your completed survey, for your records. 

Dr. Joel Ducoste, North Carolina State University,

Dr. Kevin Keener, Purdue University,
Barbara Oslund, P.E., Solutions-IES,
Dr. John Groninger, Southern Illinois University,

Leon Holt, Town of Cary,

Michael Hogan, Duke's Root Control, Inc.,

Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF.org)




Revised: 10/21/05.