FWEA’s Collection Systems Committee Fall Virtual Seminar series began on November 4 with a presentation by our Infrastructure Department Manager, Peter Simms. Peter presented on Programmatic Approach to Cost-Effective Infiltration and Inflow (I&I) Reduction. He focused on a Florida case study – Jones Edmunds’ development of a programmatic approach to I&I for Gainesville Regional Utilities (GRU).

I&I is defined as groundwater and stormwater that enter a sewer system. Collection systems can be damaged when they are forced to transport more flow than they are designed to handle. I&I reduction has become an especially hot topic due to the requirements of the Clean Waterways Act recently passed by the Florida Legislature and its focus on I&I and sanitary sewer overflow reduction. Peter presented on this subject and the GRU case study multiple times this year, beginning with a webinar for the American Public Works Association that compared approaches to I&I mitigation that can involve cross-discipline coordination between wastewater, stormwater, and water departments. This webinar was presented in early February before virtual formats became the new normal for 2020. In May, Peter once again presented on the topic along with Jones Edmunds Senior Vice President Brett Cunningham as part of a series of complimentary webinars that Jones Edmunds provided for continuing education hours (CEHs) toward Professional Engineer continuing education requirements. Peter and Brett discussed how over the years, utilities have been implementing I&I reduction practices using field investigations such as smoke testing and CCTV inspections and rehabilitation measures such as gravity sewer lining with some success. Peter said that, “As utilities have recognized the need to accelerate I&I identification efforts and increase renewal and replacement (R&R) budgets, this webinar offered some unique I&I strategies to help ensure that R&R budgets provide the greatest return on investment.” The series of Jones Edmunds webinars as well as our Engineering Rocks podcasts are available here. Peter is also available to answer any questions about I&I reduction at psimms@jones-edmunds.local.