CITY HOPES OTHER CITIES WILL USE ITS TV-SEWER-INSPECTION DEVICE

When Cape Girardeau officials in August purchased a television sewer-line-inspection vehicle, they intended the transaction to be a needed investment for the city.

The new equipment enables the city, through a remote video camera, to examine and diagnose sewer problems without digging up lines.

Now the city hopes it can recoup some of the $82,000 purchase cost of the equipment by offering the service to other communities.

Mary Ellen Klein, environmental services coordinator, said the city recently began to market the van with the sewer video equipment to other communities that could benefit from the service.

"It's something we're offering to communities in the region," Klein said. "We have had the vehicle for some time, and within the last month we made up a little flyer offering sewer inspection services."

Klein said city officials took the advertisement to the last Southeast Missouri Regional Solid Waste District meeting in Perryville, where several cities indicated an interest.

The city charges $80 per hour for travel and set-up and 70 cents per foot for sewer-line-inspection services. The only client to date is Scott City, which spent about $400 for a recent inspection.

Klein said she hopes more cities will contract for the service, which would help defray the cost of the equipment.

"When the city purchased the equipment, the biggest need for it was in Cape Girardeau, but I think they probably had it in mind to make it available to other communities."

In the past, Cape Girardeau rented similar equipment to detect problems in the city's sewer lines. A small video camera is connected to the inspection van.

The camera can be pulled by winch or a self-propelled transporter through the sewer line. By watching a video monitor, repair crews are able to detect problems in the line and dig up and repair only that section that is bad.

Without the equipment, Klein said, the process involves a "seek-and-find operation" that can be time-consuming and costly. If a problem is identified, the inspection crew can make the repairs for a fee.

"The TV inspection vehicle itself, we have a billing rate set up for that; but, if we're required to do any repairs, we have a different rate," Klein said.

Because the equipment makes sewer repairs quicker and easier, Klein said she thinks some area cities likely will take advantage of the city's services.

"I think it will provide a needed service for communities in the area," she said. "It pinpoints problems; then you know where you can dig up the line and make the repairs.

"I don't know of any other communities in this area that have this kind of service."