Storm and Sanitary System Cleaning and Maintenance

Storm and sanitary sewer systems keep our communities functioning, making annual maintenance a priority. Continual maintenance prevents issues such as blockages, leaks, and other costly disruptions. Storm and sanitary system cleaning and assessment play a key role in maintenance. The process removes buildup, debris, and obstructions before they have a chance to cause backups, flooding or damage. Regular maintenance not only extends the lifespan of the infrastructure, but it also protects surrounding environments and reduces the risk of costly emergency repairs for cities and municipalities. In this article, we’ll discuss storm and sanitary system maintenance services from USG.

Storm and Sanitary System Maintenance Services

USG’s utilizes several methods to maintain these structures, including but not limited to cleaning, assessment, and ancillary services. Below is brief description of these services:

• High Pressure Water Jetting: Over time, debris can build up inside of these structures, obstructing flow or potentially even backing up the system if left unchecked. USG has a fleet of high pressure water cleaning trucks to remove and properly dispose of this debris, whether it’s sanitary or storm debris. This prevents this debris from building up and causing blockages. A full understanding of the sewer system is required before the correct truck can be selected. Pipe size, grade, and amount of potential debris are critical to mobilize the right truck, because not all jet trucks are equal. Once we determine the best truck for the project, we then select from various nozzles to make the process as efficient as possible. Having a large selection of nozzles matched to each trucks capabilities aides in this process.
• CCTV Camera Inspections: Both before the pipe is cleaned or after, an assessment through the use of CCTV camera inspections will let us know the condition of the pipes. We use robotic cameras to inspect sanitary and storm pipes. Again, not all CCTV cameras are equal. USG has a fleet of CCTV cameras to choose from, ensuring that the right camera is deployed each time. Making sure the right truck is sent for the project can lead to the success of the project. During this inspection, mainline cameras travel through the main pipe that collects water from homes and buildings, while lateral cameras let us see into the smaller pipes that connect to it. The lateral camera attaches to the main camera and can be pushed up into those connecting lines for a closer look. This method lets us see into the pipe without having to send someone in and can offer important details needed to plan your cleaning service. USG also has steerable cameras, which can prove to be invaluable information, especially for storm systems with lots of turns and blind connections. The camera inspections can be done at various times, in conjunction with cleaning or as a stand alone service to better understand the maintenance or rehabilitation needs.
• Bypass: In some cases, cleaning is not possible due to the flow within the pipe. When too much water is moving through the system, water jetting becomes ineffective. Our team can bypass the water when this is the case. The process involves removing the water from an upstream access point and transporting it to a downstream location, outside of the cleaning or inspection area. This can be done through “wet welling” or flow-through intake pumping. USG is a one-stop-shop and has bypass capabilities inhouse, eliminating the need to contract another company to get the water out of the system.
• Drafting: Often the size and/or volume of water make bypass too expensive or even impossible without significant effort and disruption to the surrounding community. Drafting is a technique that can be used in these situations. During drafting, the CCTV truck and the jet truck work in conjunction to create a vacuum effect where limited water is present immediately behind the jetting nozzle. The CCTV camera follows immediately behind and is able to capture images of the pipe, without disruption of the flow. Inspections of this kind demand precise collaboration between the camera operator and the jet truck operator. With proper communication and extensive experience, the procedure is executed correctly and frequently provides a more economical alternative to other inspection methods.
• Assessment: Before any services can be planned for a structure, assessment is an absolute necessity. Proper evaluation ensures the right service is performed, avoiding unnecessary costs. All of our assessments are completed by NASSCO certified personnel. NASSCO is the National Association of Sewer Service Contractors Organization. NASSCO establishes the standardized coding system for pipe defects and observations, creating a consistent language across the industry. This ensures that when an inspector identifies a condition such as a fracture, every NASSCO certified professional and engineer interprets it the same way. At USG, all CCTV operators hold NASSCO certification, so you can be confident that each inspection is performed with precision and consistency.

In most instances, these services are necessary to plan for rehabilitation and repair of these structures.

Why USG for Storm and Sanitary System Maintenance?

At USG, we approach projects with a problem-solving mindset. To us, every project is a challenge that requires the understanding of the client’s goals before we can deliver the right solution. Each project has a dedicated Project Manager that has years of experience in the cleaning, televising, and rehabilitation of sanitary and storm systems. The first thing we aim to do is understand what the problem is, then we develop a plan to resolve that problem utilizing all of the tools at our disposal. Because we invest heavily in equipment, technology, and our people with constant training, allowing us to attack the issue in the most efficient way. Some of the investments we have made to ensure effective solutions are:

• Survey Grade GPS: If requested or needed we can locate defects, problems, or unknown structures with survey grade GPS technology. This can be converted to sub-meter mapping for your use.
• AI investment: USG invests in Artificial Intelligence to strengthen the expertise of our highly skilled operators. By leveraging an AI-driven software platform, we can accelerate quality control, minimize the potential for errors, and deliver organized data in clear, accessible formats. This technology enables system-wide assessments in moments, highlighting both immediate needs and longer-term priorities. Importantly, AI does not replace our people; it enhances the capabilities of an already exceptional team.
• GIS Integration: If you have your own GIS data, we can quickly import that information and then provide you more GIS data back after the inspection and maintenance is completed. If you don’t have GIS mapping, USG can create base GIS mapping and data while performing the maintenance work.
• Recycler Jet Trucks: USG has made significant investments a recycling jet trucks. A recycler jet truck reuses cleaning water in replace of new clean water. This lowers the need for water and increases the amount of time spent cleaning instead of filing up the truck with water. This can be critical in areas where access to large volumes of water are problematic. It typically allows us to work on the order for 40% to 50% longer before refilling the truck with water. Requiring less water refills for the trucks results in more cleaning, lower overall costs, and quicker completion.
• Experience: In August 2025, USG proudly celebrated 20 years in business. Backed by a management team with more than 150 years of combined expertise, we draw on this depth of knowledge to deliver effective solutions for every client challenge.

Every system has unique challenges, but with USG you don’t face them alone. Let’s work together to safeguard your infrastructure and streamline maintenance with proven, cost-effective solutions. Connect with USG: The Intersection of People, Safety, Service, and Technology.