Fixing Mainlines is a Battle.
Ignore Private Laterals & You Lose The War on Infiltration.
It’s the problem you cannot afford to ignore: Private Service Laterals or PSLs commonly make up as much as half of a sewer system’s total length. Most of that asset lives on private property. It is rarely inspected at scale, despite Florida Statutes §125.569 and §166.0481 explicitly instructing municipalities to establish an evaluation and rehabilitation program for these forgotten assets.
Depending on the study of the day, estimates range from 40% to 75% of the total infiltration in any system is directly contributed by PSLs. When rain and groundwater pour into cracked or poorly connected laterals, plants and pump stations lose hydraulic headroom, and the odds of overflow climb quickly. RDII, in particular, is a significant source of problems here in Florida, specifically.
Florida’s data tells the same story, again and again, year after year. While some years are better than others, in general, the data looks the same, with around 50% of total SSOs being contributed to rainfall events. The chart reflects the Top 5 causes listed for SSOs in their annual report. Florida coastal municipalities, in particular, are more vulnerable given the rise in coastal area groundwater tables and tidal influence affecting major communities.
So, how do we conquer this Florida problem? Start with a targeted wet-weather flow and rainfall monitoring program to quantify RDII and pinpoint sub-basins and service areas where private laterals and connections are driving peak flows. Pair monitoring with NASSCO-compliant condition assessment so findings translate directly into actionable data-driven decisions.
Apply standards-based trenchless methods to create tight, jointless linings and seal the main to lateral interface and re-monitor after installation to hold the contractor accountable through performance-based contract models to track gallons removed to get an actual return on investment cost basis for your project and the community impact.
A CLEAR™ path forward. A Florida-ready framework for addressing private laterals and associated infiltration, known as the Community Lateral Enhancement for Asset Resilience Program, offers a comprehensive, turn-key condition assessment and lateral rehabilitation program. This fixed price program with no change order guarantee is designed to ensure maximum compliance with FDEP and EPA CMOM standards. If your municipality struggles with infiltration & inflow, the solution you require is CLEAR™.
5,884 Sanitary Sewer Overflows
321,909,409 Gallons Spilled
50% Rainfall Derived
Source: FDEP Annual Report
