Equipment Services
South Dakota Association of Rural Water Systems (SDARWS) utilizes cutting-edge technology to provide practical solutions designed specifically to meet the needs of small and rural communities in South Dakota. By using available technology, our field staff can collect and analyze both water and wastewater features and defects more efficiently and in ways that lead to better solutions for repair and maintenance.
With the use of GPS and other digital documentation devices, we can detect, evaluate and document a variety of data critical to the efficient management of water and wastewater utilities.
Technical Assistance Trailers
SDARWS has 3 Technical Assistance Trailers with a wide range of capabilities. Our staff can help your utility with the following tasks:
Water Trailers (2)
Emergency Response
Leak Detection
Chlorination
De-Chlorination
Pressure Testing
Wastewater Trailer
Smoke Testing Manholes
Smoke Test Cleanouts
Video Inspection
Poly-pigging
Flow Monitoring
Leak Detection, Line Location & Valve Location
SDARWS performs leak detection surveys to identify potential water leaks and increased water loss percentages. We utilize portable hand-held leak survey monitors, mtallic water line tracing and magnetic valve box location equipment. This equipment will provide the system with a water audit to assist with unaccounted-for water.
Pressure Data Loggers
Dertermining whether a customer has low pressure or low flow problems can be difficult. SDARWS has computerized pressure data loggers that can monitor water system pressure zones throughout your distribution system to help narrow down the customer's concerns.
Ultrasonic Flow Meter
The GE Panametrics TransPort PT878 ultrasonic flow meter is highly versatile, self-contained, portable transit-time system with options and accessories to meet all your liquid flow transducers, this unit measures flow rate through metal, plastic, or event concrete-lined pipes, without penetrating the pipe wall.
Hydrant Flow Testing, GPS Coordinates & System Mapping
SDARWS performs hydrant flow testing to provide accurate gallon per minute flow rates on fire hydrants. GPS coordinates are documented on each hydrant so flow data and hydrant location can be plotted on the system's distribution map. This information will be a tremendous asset to the local fire department.
Pipe Thawing Services
Thawing frozen water services up to 2" line size is a service now offered by your Association. Our portable electric powered pump is a powerful positive displacement gear pump designed to pump hot water into a frozen live service line.
Smoke Testing
Smoke testing is performed to identify areas of inflow/infiltration where unwanted water may be entering the collection system and leading to possible sewer backups. Smoke-filled air is forced into sanitary sewer lines and other connections using smoke testing equipment and liquid smoke.
Video Inspection
A video camera pipeline inspection allows for real-time visual inspection of new or existing sewer lines to determine the condition of piping. South Dakota Rural Water uses a camera equipped with powerful lights mounted to a tractor that can travel through pipes varying from 8-15" in diameter. Video inspections are used to identify pipe damage such as broken, cracked or collapsed pipe and blockages that create backups.
Flow Monitoring
South Dakota Rural Water performs flow monitoring to determine the variations between normal and storm flow so the discrete sectinos of the collection system can be targeted for repair and/or video inspection. Our flow meter is installed in designated manholes and the data is typically retrieved on a timely basis. After gatherin the data, we provide a report of each monitoring site describing the flow conditions.
Poly-Pigging
South Dakota Rural Water provides guidance in poly-pigging collection system force mains. Cleaning force mains can increase pumping rates and decrease monthly electric bills. We'll provide the pigs and oversee setup of pig launching devices.
CPR/AED/First Aid Training
SDARWS provides life saving CPR/AED/First Aid Training conducted by our licensed Emergency Medical Technician. Water and wastewater operators are working in a high accident prone industry. Protect yourself and fellow employees by scheduling the American Heart Association Course and First Aid Training.
To learn more about these services, call South Dakota Rural Water at 605-556-7219.
Circuit Riders At Work
The Circuit Rider Program provides on-site training and technical assistance to rural and small-town water systems throughout the state of South Dakota. Our state is fortunate to have three Circuit Riders, one wastewater and two water. The Wastewater Technician covers the entire state. One water Circuit Rider serves the eastern half of the state and the other water Circuit Rider focuses on the western systems. In order to avoid overlapping of duties, we have established the Missouri River as an unofficial dividing line.
Smoke testing and sewer televising remains a significant portion of the requests for wastewater technical assistance. Evaluation of the amount of solids in lagoon systems has become a growing concern.
Although both water Circuit Riders share common goals, the types of water systems and typical problems encountered have some differences. Continuing education is extremely important for our Circuit Riders, to share what they learn with our water systems throughout the state. This past year, Nick Jackson and Sid Munson attended the Badger Water Meter Training Class and the Grundfos Technical Institute Groundwater Training Class.
The most common areas of assistance requested in western systems include: basic operation and maintenance of a small system, water treatment, compliance issues, long and short range plans, financial management, security and training. Many of the West River systems requesting assistance dealt with Safe Drinking Water Act compliance issues, this included Total Coliform Rule, Organic Chemical testing (SOC’s and VOC’s) Disinfectants and Disinfection By-Products Rule (DBP) and the Stage 2 DBPR, reporting and sampling, basic disinfection procedures and chlorine testing requirements, operator certification, and a few Arsenic and Radionuclide issues.
Operation and maintenance requests came in a close second to compliance assistance. These calls typically involved leak detection, locating lines, valves and curb-stops, source water (well) issues, stray voltage and water pressure problems. Another important service provided was offering assistance with water treatment techniques including chemical dosages, proper filtration rates, back washing procedures and the effects the weather has on system demands.
Also high on the priority list this fall were Vulnerability Assessments and Emergency Response Plans for water systems serving communities with a population less than 3300.
Financial management is a topic directly related to governing boards or what we like to refer to as the system decision makers. Helping people with loan applications, water rate studies, and just getting systems to develop a plan for the future are challenges being met. Many system meetings centered on providing information to individuals to help them pass certification exams. Smaller systems have difficulty attending two and three day training sessions and request on-site help.
The majority of East River systems requested and received assistance with finding water leaks that literally robbed the systems of millions of gallons of water and thousands of dollars in lost revenue.
On-site assistance also focused on conducting vulnerability assessments and completing emergency response plans for systems that have a Rural Development loan. Filter troubleshooting was also provided at several systems with each problem different than the previous one.
New operator training played an important role in last years work load with one-on-one training for systems unable to get away to area certification training sessions.
Several distribution problems were tackled, from low pressure and/or flow problems, to stray voltage, and nitrification. The Disinfection By-products Rule was very challenging to implement and Stage 2 DBP Rule will be just as difficult. Compliance with the Lead and Copper Rule was an issue for some systems that changed their source water. Additional compliance issues also were addressed from operator certification to radium removal to bacteriological sampling procedures.
The majority of water systems receiving technical assistance East River were municipalities, many who are served by rural water systems; West River systems requesting assistance included homeowner associations, state and federal installations, campgrounds and seasonal businesses. Broken down into East River and West River locations, South Dakota’s 671 public water systems are: 53% East River and 47% West River. East River has more municipalities and rural water systems but West River has more homeowner associations and close to 200 Transient Non-Community Systems (campgrounds, restaurants, etc.).
RateMaker Software
RateMaker Software is an important service your rural water association provides for systems is completing a water rate analysis. Utilizing the RateMaker software, with the needed system data, this program can create many options for systems looking at adjusting rates.
Small System Assistance
The average small system has a volunteer board of directors as well as an individual that volunteers to maintain the water system. Therefore, when these systems (<200 population) learn about the availability of our services, we get calls weekly for assistance.
For the most part, smaller systems rely on our association to provide some guidance and suggestions on how their system can operate more efficiently. With volunteers in charge, the amount of training attended is very limited as is the equipment available to properly operate the system. This is where we can make a difference.
Providing technical assistance in areas of leak detection and line tracing is a high percentage of calls. There is nothing simple about a small leak to these systems. Small leaks put everyone out of water.
Board Education
Another area that we focus on is board education. Systems that have their board well versed in water knowledge and finances are much better off. Each year our staff works many evenings with small system boards to help them adjust rates, look at funding options, or just provide them with the basic understanding of what it takes to properly operate a water system