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BAMI-I Partnered with Ziptility and BFU to develop Asset Management Plan for small utility

The beginning of 2023, Buried Asset Management Institute – International (BAMI-I), Ziptility, Inc., Bynum Fanyo Utilities (BFU) and the Town of Switz City, Indiana plan to work together to develop an Asset Management Plan (AMP) for the town’s drinking water and wastewater system.

Drinking water and wastewater system assets deteriorate with time. At some point they reach the end of their useful life. As this deterioration continues, emergencies increase requiring reactive management measures. These measures tend to be much more expensive than if prevented utilizing proactive management measures.  Every utility has a responsibility to provide a level of service to their customers which include a sufficient quantity of safe drinking water and an effective wastewater service with minimum interruptions at the right rate. This requires developing and implementing a comprehensive risk-based asset management (AM) program. According to Senate Bill 272, in order to obtain a loan, grant, or other financial assistance from the Indiana Finance Authority (IFA) after June 30, 2023: Utilities must demonstrate that it has developed an asset management program, as defined in the guidelines of the Authority; and an estimate of the life cycle management costs, as defined in the guidelines of the Authority.

The problem is that many small utilities lack the water AM knowledge, workforce and resources to develop their own programs. They need assistance and help.  BAMI-I has an AM certification program to support small utilities, and Ziptility provides operations and asset management software for small utility teams, BFU is a small utility operations provider. BAMI-I representative Tom Iseley and Wei Liao along with Ziptility representatives Adam Hershberger, Jesse Kurth and BFU’s owner Jeff Farmer, agreed that they would choose the Town of Switz City to collaborate on the development of their asset management program with the goal of making the program a reference model for asset management for small utilities in Indiana.

The city of Switz City, with a population of less than 400, has a water and sewerage system in place. All parties had met several times at a Switz City town council to discuss the implementation of an asset management plan (AMP) for the system. George E. Kurz was enlisted to conduct an inflow and infiltration (I/I) analysis using operational report data provided by the operator. He estimated the cost of I/I, cost of sewer rehabilitation, and payback period. The next step is to conduct data collection and site surveys as per the IFA Asset Management Guidelines and to develop a development plan.

NASTT Announces Abbott Innovative Product Award Finalists

The North American Society for Trenchless Technology (NASTT) is pleased to announce the finalists for the 2022 Abbott Innovative Product & Services Award competition.  The Abbott Innovative Product & Services Award celebrates companies with a state-of-the-art product or service developed or re-launched in the last 2 years making a significant impact in advancing the trenchless industry in the areas of rehabilitation or new installation. Finalists will be judged on innovation (concept, method, development); value (need, advantages, cost); and, impact (sustainability, social/environmental responsibility and potential).

VISIT FINALISTS AT THE INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS FORUM AND IN THE EXHIBIT HALL

Competitors must be in attendance at the NASTT No-Dig Show as an exhibitor or sponsor and present a product overview at the Innovative Products Forum on Monday, April 11 from 9:55-11:35am. Attendees can visit exhibiting finalists in the Exhibit Hall. The winners will be announced that evening at the NASTT Annual Educational Fund Auction in the Exhibit Hall. Presentations from all the finalists will be posted online following the No-Dig Show.

NASTT Partners with UCA and Down for That

The North American Society for Trenchless Technology (NASTT) is pleased to announce it has partnered with the Underground Construction Association (UCA), a division of the Society of Mining Metallurgy and Exploration, Inc.

The objective of this initiative it to work collaboratively toward the betterment and technical innovation of the tunneling, underground and trenchless technology industries.

NASTT will be a key supporting organization of Down For That, which is the UCA outreach initiative specifically to universities, students, and university professors. Other key supporting organizations of Down For That are the ASCE Geo-Institute, Deep Foundations Institute, The Beavers, and the Moles.

NASTT will contribute to resources included on www.undergroundcareers.org to promote scholarships, tunnel tours, industry profiles, and all other items on the Down For That website for the benefit of members as a collective outreach initiative.

If you are interested in learning more and contributing to this effort please attend the informational meeting to be held during the NASTT 2022 No-Dig Show on Tuesday, April 12 from 2:00-3:00 PM in room 101J.

North American Society for Trenchless Technology Announces Innovative Product Award Winners

The North American Society for Trenchless Technology (NASTT) announced the 2022 Abbott Innovative Product & Services Award winners at the NASTT 2022 No-Dig Show at the Minneapolis Convention Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Abbott Innovative Product & Services Award celebrates companies with a state-of-the-art product or service making a significant impact in advancing the trenchless industry in the areas of rehabilitation or new installation.

The selected winners met the highest-level of standards for each category. Products were judged on Innovation (concept, method, development); Value (need, advantages, cost); and, Impact (sustainability, social/environmental responsibility and potential).

“Honoring those who successfully implement outstanding projects that can bring transformative change to trenchless technologies provides industry-wide recognition of their approach to address the needs and priorities of the industry and their customers,” said Matthew Izzard, NASTT Executive Director. “The Innovative Product & Services Award is a testament to the skill, ingenuity and vision of the creative teams that research, develop, design, market and operate these products.”