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WSB assists City of North Branch to secure $400,000 grant from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED)

The City of North Branch has received a $400,000 grant from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).

The City of North Branch will use grant dollars for the installation of a trunk water line along 400^th Street, under I-35. The existing water system serving the 400^th Street industrial park is currently unable to provide adequate fire flows and water volume, preventing commercial and industrial development. The trunk facility will be installed in 2019, and is a critical component of the city’s water infrastructure system. The intent and hope of the trunk line is to spur economic momentum throughout the 250-acre industrial park.

The Greater Minnesota Business Development Public Infrastructure Program Grant helps stimulate new economic development, create new jobs and retains existing jobs through investments in public infrastructure. It provides grants to cities of up to 50 percent of the capital costs of the public infrastructure necessary to expand or retain jobs in the area, increase the tax base, or expand or create new economic development.

Lee Gustafson, WSB Senior Project Manager, is the City of North Branch’s City Engineer. Gustafson completed the grant application on behalf of the City of North Branch.

The post WSB assists City of North Branch to secure $400,000 grant appeared first on WSB.

By Tom Wood

Pavement mixes used to build streets, highways and parking lots are not the same. There are several different mix requirements that are applied to each based on the use of the surface. Parking lots carry a low amount of daily traffic, but experience wear and tear due to static loading or from serving as a rest area. Rest areas and truck stops have a high number of creep speed Equivalent Single Axle Loads (ESALs). ESAL is a concept developed from data collected at the American Association of State Highway Officials. It is a road test that measures the damage relationship and the effects of axles carrying different loads.

When determining pavement mix, a parking lot’s classification must be established. Parking lots are divided into two classifications: passenger vehicle parking and commercial vehicle parking. In some cases, parking lots serve as both passenger vehicle parking and commercial vehicle parking. These parking lots require special considerations.

The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) has developed mix designations that are included in their Standard Specifications for Construction Book. All project documents submitted must be in accordance with the book. Mixture designations are coded and outlined for their specifications using SPWEA430C.

SP Design Type

Superpave, which is a gyratory compactor design used for all asphalt mixtures. This is the latest design used to replace the Marshall mix design method.

WE Lift course

A Maximum Aggregate Size

4 Traffic Level

The traffic level is based on the ESAL or the annual average daily traffic (AADT). Higher traffic levels require a higher-level percent of crushed aggregates. This will reduce the effects of rutting on pavement caused by traffic loading when soft mixes are used.

30 Air Void Requirement

C Performance Grade (PG) Binder Type

The first numbers of the binder type are the average seven-day maximum pavement temperature (^oC) and the second number is the expected minimum pavement temperature (^oC). The letters dictate the traffic level. “S” grade is for standard traffic, “H” grade is for heavy traffic, “V” grade is for very heavy traffic, and “E” grade is for extremely heavy traffic.

Example – Binder Type A:

A PG 52S-34 is intended for use where the average seven-day maximum pavement temperature is 52 degrees Celsius and the expected minimum temperature is -34 degrees Celsius, under standard traffic conditions.

Parking lot mix types:

Below are some recommendations on mix types that will help enhance the overall performance of the parking lots.

Aggregate Size

Traffic Level

Air Void Requirement

PG Binder Type

The recommendations above are guidelines. Additional investigation is necessary and should include coring or boring to further evaluate the subsurface conditions prior to a design work.

The post Parking Lots Paving – Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) Recommendations appeared first on WSB.

WSB receives honorable mention for Project of the Year from the City Engineers Association of Minnesota (CEAM)

WSB’s Afton Old Village Preservation Project received an honorable mention for Project of the Year at the City Engineers Association of Minnesota (CEAM) Annual Conference on Wednesday, January 30. Each year, CEAM honors the special achievements of engineers and recognizes outstanding engineering projects at their Annual Conference. This is the second consecutive year our firm has received an honorable mention for Project of the Year. Our firm was recognized for our contributions to the St. Anthony Village Advanced Oxidation Water Treatment Plant in 2018.

Afton Old Village Preservation | CEAM Project of the Year Honorable Mention

WSB worked with the City of Afton and Washington County to reconstruct the 160-year-old Old Village of Afton. The project revitalized the Old Village of Afton, protecting the historic properties and restoring the opportunity to revitalize the downtown area of the City. This $20 million, eight-year effort included new sanitary collection and treatment system; reconstruction of all County and local roads; new trails; levee reconstruction; stormwater enhancements, ADA improvements and provided 100-year flood protection to protect the Old Village of Afton over the next century.

The post WSB receives CEAM Honor Awards appeared first on WSB.

WSB receives Honor Awards from American Council of Engineering-Minnesota (ACEC-MN)

On Friday, January 25, the American Council of Engineering-Minnesota (ACEC-MN) awarded WSB two Honor Awards for the Afton Old Village Preservation and Corridors of Commerce – Scope and Project Selection at the Excellence in Engineering Awards Banquet in Minneapolis.

For over fifty years, the association has been recognizing outstanding engineering projects through their awards program. Minnesota engineering firms across the state enter their most innovative projects and studies hoping to be recognized for the work they’ve done to make the state stronger.

Afton Old Village Preservation | ACEC Honor Award

WSB worked with the City of Afton and Washington County to reconstruct the 160-year-old Old Village of Afton. WSB led an eight-year process that assembled the project vision, procured stakeholder funding, prepared preliminary design, final design, construction administration and coordination with tribal communities. The project revitalized the Old Village of Afton, protecting the historic properties and reinvigorating the downtown area of the City. This $20 million effort included a new sanitary collection and treatment system; reconstruction of all County and local roads; new trails; levee reconstruction; stormwater enhancements, ADA improvements and provided 100-year flood protection to protect the Old Village of Afton over the next century.

Corridors of Commerce – Scope and Project Selection | ACEC Honor Award

WSB’s Transportation and Structures Group assisted the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) in evaluating proposed projects for the department’s Corridors of Commerce program. Created by the Minnesota Legislature in 2013, the program is tasked with adding additional state highway capacity and reducing barriers to commerce. MnDOT requested public input to identify the location of transportation chokepoints and needed improvements in the state’s highway system. Using high-performance software, the project team was able to develop a concept design plan for each of the 167 projects, providing data to analyze against MnDOT’s evaluation criteria. This concept work was completed for all 167 projects within a handful of weeks.

The post WSB receives ACEC-MN Honor Awards appeared first on WSB.

Septic Tank Cleaning Solutions

5 Indicators That You Required a Septic Solution

Exactly How to Correctly Preserve Your Septic System

1. Maintenance or solution - This is vital if you want your system working much longer and better. Keep in advance of large, costly issues by having a licensed septic system specialist take a look at your septic system every so often. We provide a custom-made schedule based upon your scenario and also provide you with a cost-free reminder of the days.



2. Fixing of your effluent filter - If the effluent filter struggles with some damages, it can create the solids to overflow into your leach field which is not an advantage since it can pollute the land as well as groundwater table. In some cases, it might require changing also.



3. Onsite Analysis - If you have any worries, you just need to make a call as well as a professional will involve aid you and offer you a summary of your septic system with expert pointers.



4. Sewer hydro jetting - With our equipment, we can send a high-pressure stream of water that can cleanse your septic tank line and also require the entire blockage out without causing any kind of damage. This benefits when you have a sewage system line backed up into your residence. We can do this both for outside and also indoor pipes and also sewer drain.



5. System and New Tank Installations - We offer, as many septic tank solutions do, layout, formats, and also an installment of a brand-new system. Our group of professionals is constantly there to help house owners in planning for a new system.



6.Septic Pumping - Our professional team will come and drain your septic system, This treatment needs to only be managed by experts and our team can examine the problem of your whole septic system while the system is being pumped out.



7. Septic tank and system repairs - If your system calls for a repair, our group can manage it.



Your septic system requires cleaning every 2-6 years - no amount of special microbial ingredients will eliminate the built up blockages as well as require for a container clean out. Even the most effective septic tanks can fail if not managed by experts and pumped out on a regular routine.



If there are big lapses in time when maintaining your septic system, this can cause pricey fixings. Inspect your system routinely to avoid the effluent filter and also baffles from breaking, and thus stop solids from flowing right into your system's leach field and blocking it. With a correct upkeep program, you can ensure that it's risk-free. Various other system problems can be prevented also by adhering to these tactical upkeep procedures.



The last thing you want is an overflowing storage tank or a leak. Your septic system is a self-supporting, underground wastewater treatment system and also it's designed to get rid of household wastewater. These systems tend to call for intricate repair services done by qualified septic professionals with accuracy and also care.



Luckily, our septic tank solution is there for you, to help you maintain your septic system as well as the tank. With the degree of septic system installation experience and expertise that we have, you can never fail. Never forget that Septic Tank Pumping Pros serves all 8 counties in Connecticut

and most recently did a huge septic tank cleaning at a condominium complex in New Haven County.

Septic Tank Cleaning and System Statistics for Connecticut

"An estimated 40% of Connecticut residents, close to 1.5 million people, live in homes served by on-site sewage systems. The vast majority of these sewage systems are conventional septic systems that are under the jurisdiction of the Local Directors of Health and are the primary means of sewage disposal in rural and low-density suburban areas. Septic systems also serve apartment buildings, schools, restaurants, and other commercial buildings in non-urban areas.



Septic systems that are properly designed, installed, and maintained provide a safe and efficient way of disposing domestic sewage. However, when sewage is discharged to antiquated or substandard sewage systems, such as cesspools, renovation of the wastewater by the soil may be incomplete. Sewage contains pathogens disease-causing organisms) and if improperly disposed of may result in health hazards and nuisance conditions.

Septic systems on sites with design flows of 7,500* gallons per day (GPD) and less are permitted by the Local Director Health. Additionally, plans for large septic systems serving buildings with design flows of 2,000 to 7,500 GPD must be approved by the CT Department of Public Health. Septic systems, defined as subsurface sewage disposal systems, are regulated by the Public Health Code (PHC) Section 19-13-B103 and the associated Technical Standards for Subsurface Sewage Disposal Systems (Technical Standards). Local Health Department contact information. Septic systems on sites with design flows exceeding 7,500 GPD, alternative sewage disposal systems, and community sewage systems are permitted by the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CTDEEP)." Source for last three paragraphs here.



Dan is very happy to serve as well as assist our area the best method we know - by assisting their septic tanks to remain healthy as well as practical. Our community is tight-knit, and also we strive for quality and strong connections with all our septic repair clients. Our team is honest, trustworthy, experienced, always offered and trustworthy - no septic tanks issue is too large or too tiny for us!

All Clear Septic and Wastewater Services have many years experience working with customers to locate and fix their septic problems, whether they are large or small. Our customers will often come to us with a symptom of septic problems, such as sewage smells in the home or septic backups in the toilet but not know […]

The post Do You Know How To Prevent Septic Problems From Happening? appeared first on All Clear Septic.

All Clear Septic and Wastewater Services have many years experience working with customers to locate and fix their septic problems, whether they are large or small. Our customers will often come to us with a symptom of septic problems, such as sewage smells in the home or septic backups in the toilet but not know […]

The post Do You Know How To Prevent Septic Problems From Happening? appeared first on All Clear Septic.

All Clear Septic and Wastewater Services have spent many years in this region providing septic services to property owners. Often the first contact we will have with a client is when they request a septic inspection because they are selling a property or sometimes buying a property with a septic system. This is because in […]

The post Septic Inspections Often Lead To Referrals and Repeat Business appeared first on All Clear Septic.

All Clear Septic and Wastewater Services is replacing a D-Box for a customer today in Acushnet, MA. A septic distribution box (D-Box) is a container used to receive septic system effluent from a septic tank and to re-distribute the effluent into a network of attached drainfield or soakaway bed absorption trenches and pipes. The D-box […]

The post Septic Repairs Provided Today Including A D-Box Replacement in Acushnet appeared first on All Clear Septic.

All Clear Septic and Wastewater Services knows that the words septic, sewer, sewage and effluent are not ones that most people use in day to day life and are generally quite happy that this is the case. However at All Clear Septic and Wastewater Services we regularly discuss, at length, septic systems, septic services, sewage […]

The post Septic Services Enable Our Clients To Not Worry About their Septic appeared first on All Clear Septic.

All Clear Septic and Wastewater Services carry out many Title 5 septic inspections for property owners in Massachusetts. Title 5 is the regulation of the Massachusetts State Environmental Code 310 CMR 15.000 which protects communities and environments from the potential hazards of on-site wastewater disposal systems (septic systems). Septic systems are to be properly located, […]

The post Title 5 Septic Inspections To Keep Everyone Safe appeared first on All Clear Septic.

All Clear Septic and Wastewater Services know that a septic alarm going off is a cause for concern. Property owners should contact a septic professional to investigate the cause for the alarm and to action anything that needs attention, whether that means a pump out is required or a repair is necessary to a septic […]

The post Septic Alarm Installation in Rochester MA appeared first on All Clear Septic.

All Clear Septic and Wastewater Services knows that regular maintenance is the single most important consideration in making sure your septic system, whether it is a conventional septic system, an innovative/alternative system, or a cesspool, works well over time. Regular septic pumping helps prevent solids from escaping into the drainfield and clogging soil pores. It […]

The post Septic Pumping Is Essential Septic System Maintenance appeared first on All Clear Septic.

All Clear Septic and Wastewater Services has extensive experience working with septic systems and can use this experience to locate the source of your septic problem and fix it. When we are called out to your property for a septic repair we will assess the condition of your septic system and will then present you […]

The post Septic Repairs Carried Out And Sometimes Confined Space Entry Is Required appeared first on All Clear Septic.

All Clear Septic and Wastewater Services suggests everyone makes sure to avoid black cats and ladders on this Friday 13th! Not that we are a superstitious bunch. We know that good luck is often the result of planning and preparation. This is true particularly for your septic system. Following good maintenance practices and advice will […]

The post Septic Pumping Can Ensure Your Dont Have Septic System Bad Luck On Friday 13th! appeared first on All Clear Septic.

All Clear Septic and Wastewater Services know that most people will only ever need to have a Title 5 Inspection (sometimes called a Title V Inspection) done when they sell a home with a septic system and, unless they move a lot, they are unlikely to need to have one done many times. Therefore it […]

The post What To Expect When You Have A Title 5 Inspection appeared first on All Clear Septic.

All Clear Septic and Wastewater Services not only provide septic services, inspections and repairs for existing septic systems but we can also provide the initial design for a septic system. Today we have a septic design meeting with a customer in Lakeville MA. Our client is renovating an older home which needs a new septic […]

The post Septic Design For Lakeville Massachusetts Property appeared first on All Clear Septic.

Spartan Tool takes pride in the many businesses with whom we’ve had the pleasure of working since we opened our doors in 1943. We are honored to support plumbers and drain cleaners with our finely-crafted, professional grade equipment.

Join us every month as we highlight customers who have become part of our Spartan Tool family in our Pro of the Month Series.

This month, we are featuring Brent Bogan, Owner of Affordable Rooter Service, LLC in Bryant, AR. They serve customers in the North Little Rock and Little Rock, AR areas.

Brent Bogan has had an interesting career in plumbing. As a plumber by trade, he was contracted through KBR, a provider of professional services, to work in the Middle East. During his three years overseas, Bogan beca­me the top plumber in Basrah, working for the Special Forces and Navy Seals.

When he founded Affordable Rooter Service, LLC, Bogan says it took about six months to get the business off the ground. He worked alone for nearly two years before hiring more team members. Now the business handles 25-30 jobs a day between three technicians. Affordable Rooter Service has a great reputation in the community and has seen consistent revenue growth.

Affordable Rooter Service recently purchased an Urban Warrior van-mounted jetter. It helps the company to be prepared for the most challenging jobs. Bogan equips all his vans with Spartan equipment. He says, “We wouldn’t use anything else: Spartan Tool machines are the best.” Bogan also likes the way Spartan machines are made: they can break down easily to allow the technician to quickly transport the machine to challenging spaces, get the job done, and be on their way.

Bogan’s advice to those just starting out in the industry is simple: Serve your customers well. He says, “It’s all about professionalism and doing the job right in a timely manner.” He also emphasizes the importance of cleanliness: “It will make you or break you.” A technician taking the time to clean up after themselves is always time well spent.

Affordable Rooter Service is right where they want to be, thanks to Bogan’s leadership and planning. He focuses on taking good care of his team and plans to continue doing good work in the community.

For Brent Bogan and Affordable Rooter Service, hard work has paid off. We’re happy to be a part of their success and wish them all the best in the future!

All Clear Septic and Wastewater Services usually find that the number of septic inspections requested increases in the spring and summer months in direct response to the upturn in the real estate market that usually happens at this time of year and this year is no exception. We have septic inspections scheduled today in East […]

The post More Septic Inspections Due To The Increased Number Of Properties On The Market appeared first on All Clear Septic.

All Clear Septic and Wastewater Services know that for many property owners out of sight is out of mind in regards to a septic system. Being honest we know that most home and business owners who have a septic system servicing their property dont want to spend any more time than is absolutely necessary thinking […]

The post Don’t Ignore Signs Of A Septic Problem And Hope It Might Go Away appeared first on All Clear Septic.

All Clear Septic and Wastewater Services regularly attend septic problems that could have been avoided if the property owner had better information and knowledge about how to ‘live’ in a home which has its own septic system and is not on town sewer. A mistake that many septic system owners make is to put too […]

The post Excess Water In Your Septic System Can Result In Septic Problems appeared first on All Clear Septic.

All Clear Septic and Wastewater Services know that if a septic system is used correctly and maintained it should process your wastewater effectively and efficiently without interference. However if you neglect regular septic maintenance it will undoubtedly stop working effectively and could eventually fail which is a unpleasant and costly and either means a septic […]

The post Regular Septic Maintenance Is Essential To Keep Your Septic System Working appeared first on All Clear Septic.

All Clear Septic and Wastewater Services wishes all of its customers Happy July 4th! As we celebrate Independence Day with our families and friends we know that no one wants to be concerned with septic problems. However septic problems do happen and when you become aware of a nasty smell, blockage or leaking it is […]

The post Happy Independence Day From All Clear Septic and Wastewater Services! appeared first on All Clear Septic.

All Clear Septic and Wastewater Services can provide septic system designs to customers for large all small projects whether they are commercial or residential. Today we are discussing a septic system design that a customer requires for his property in Portsmouth RI. We have experience working throughout this region so we have experience working with […]

The post Septic System Design Provided To Property Owner in Portsmouth RI appeared first on All Clear Septic.

All Clear Septic and Wastewater Services repair septic systems and pump and clean septic systems as you would expect but we also provide septic system maintenance and inspections. In the state of Massachusetts Title 5 requires that your septic system is inspected by a licensed inspector in the following instances: Within 2 years before a […]

The post All Clear Septic and Wastewater Services Have Title 5 Inspections Scheduled Today appeared first on All Clear Septic.

All Clear Septic and Wastewater Services has septic pumping scheduled in Barnstable, Eastham, Dennis, Brewster, Orleans and Mashpee MA. It is important to have your septic system pumped every 3-5 years but this can vary dramatically depending on the size of your septic system and the water usage. We have one customer who has a […]

The post Be Aware Of Your Septic System’s Capabilities And Get A Septic Pumping When Necessary appeared first on All Clear Septic.

All Clear Septic and Wastewater Services have experience with all parts of a septic system and today have a septic repair scheduled which is specifically to repair an outlet baffle and D-Box for a customer in Southborough. It is essential that all parts of a septic system are working correctly to ensure that the entire […]

The post Septic Repairs Including an Outlet Baffle and D-Box Repair appeared first on All Clear Septic.

All Clear Septic and Wastewater Services conduct many septic inspections for people who are selling or sometimes buying property with a septic system. We also provide septic inspections for Condominium Buildings that are required to have septic inspections every 3 years. We also, however, provide voluntary septic assessments for property owners who are not ‘required’ […]

The post Voluntary Septic Assessments Provide Confidential Information On Your Septic System appeared first on All Clear Septic.

All Clear Septic and Wastewater Services know that when you are thinking about your septic system (if you are ever thinking about your septic system) one word that is unlikely to be the first or even the tenth is ‘clean’. However All Clear Septic and Wastewater Services can provide septic cleaning to your septic system […]

The post Septic Cleaning Will Improve The Efficiency Of Your Septic System And Keep It Running Smoothly appeared first on All Clear Septic.

All Clear Septic and Wastewater Services knows that if you own a home with a septic system or cesspool and plan to put it up for sale, add a bedroom, or change its use, you will need to get a system inspection. Title 5 of the State Environmental Code protects us by requiring inspection of […]

The post Title 5 Allows 2 Years For A Septic Repair or Upgrade If Your Home Fails A Septic Inspection appeared first on All Clear Septic.

All Clear Septic and Wastewater Services offers an affordable Preventative Maintenance Program designed to give our residential and commercial clients peace of mind in knowing that their septic system is being properly maintained, checked and monitored. Keeping your septic system in good working order is always a good idea because once you notice problems with […]

The post Our Preventative Maintenance Program Gives Customers Septic Peace Of Mind appeared first on All Clear Septic.

All Clear Septic and Wastewater Services know that today we are midway through the year with the most hours of daylight that we will see in 2018. Today we have the most time to ensure that we are keeping up with our home maintenance and this is especially important for your septic system. Following good […]

The post Midway Though The Year Make The Most Of The Daylight With Septic Maintenance appeared first on All Clear Septic.

All Clear Septic and Wastewater Services are called out to customer properties on a regular basis to provide a septic repair when the septic breakdown could have been avoided if the property owner had better information on how to use their septic system. Today we have a septic repair appointment in Rochester MA which could […]

The post Heavy Use Of Garbage Disposals Can Result In A Septic Breakdown appeared first on All Clear Septic.

All Clear Septic and Wastewater Services know that many properties in Massachusetts are serviced by septic systems because they are not on town sewer. As you would expect many of these properties are in remote areas of the state where the closest ‘town’ is not that close at all. However what is perhaps surprising are […]

The post Many Properties In Massachusetts Are Serviced By Septic Systems appeared first on All Clear Septic.

All Clear Septic and Wastewater Services knows that the smell of sewage in your home or yard is not pleasant and is also unlikely to go away without a professional assistance. This is a sign that you have a septic problem and your system will likely need some septic attention whether that means a septic […]

The post Signs That You Need A Septic Repair Should Not Be Ignored appeared first on All Clear Septic.

All Clear Septic and Wastewater Services is providing a septic design for a property owner in Portsmouth RI who is putting an addition onto their home which will include two extra bedrooms so they need a septic system to cope with this extra demand. We have recently provided septic designs to other clients in Exeter, […]

The post Septic Design for Portsmouth RI Property appeared first on All Clear Septic.

All Clear Septic and Wastewater Services know that the word ‘cesspool’ does not conjure up pleasing images and if you are considering buying a property that word can certainly put a damper on some enthusiasm you might have for it. However with the proper maintenance a cesspool is not the problem that you may fear. […]

The post Cesspool Services and Cesspool Replacement In Massachusetts appeared first on All Clear Septic.

All Clear Septic and Wastewater Services has an appointment today for a customer in Acushnet MA who needs a septic repair because their D-Box (distribution box) is not operating correctly. A D-Box is an essential component of a conventional septic system. As the name suggests it ‘distributes’ in this case wastewater from the septic tank […]

The post Your D-Box Must Be Operating Correctly To For Your Septic System To Work appeared first on All Clear Septic.

Spartan Tool takes pride in the many businesses with whom we’ve had the pleasure of working since we opened our doors in 1943. We are honored to support plumbers and drain cleaners with our finely-crafted, professional grade equipment.

Join us every month as we highlight customers who have become part of our Spartan Tool family in our Pro of the Month Series.

This month, we are featuring Josh Shelton, President/Owner of Shelton Plumbing Inc. ( http://johnsheltonplumbing.com/) in New Kensington, PA.

Josh Shelton didn’t think he wanted to be a plumber when he was young. His dad opened a plumbing business in 1983, but Josh wasn’t sure he wanted to pursue plumbing as a career. After trying several different career paths and not finding something he loved, he began to appreciate the job security he saw his father enjoy in the plumbing industry. When his father stated, “Either you’re going to take over the business one day or I’ll have to sell it,” Josh didn’t have to consider very long. He submitted his two weeks’ notice the very next day.

Josh began as an apprentice plumber, then received his Journeyman’s License and finally his Master Plumber’s License. He took over Shelton Plumbing from his father in 2014. The company has seen tremendous growth. In 2014, their average gross yearly revenue was $500,000. In 2016, the company reached $900,000 in gross revenue, followed by $1.2 million in 2017.

Shelton Plumbing’s focus was service, repairs, drain cleaning, and some remodeling. They operated smoothly, like a well-oiled machine, and began to look for new challenges and better ways to serve their customers. They teamed up with Perma-Liner Industries for CIPP installations. Josh says, “Being able to line a sewer without excavation is one of the most amazing technologies in the plumbing industry.”

In the sewer lining industry, it is always necessary to clean the host pipe. Jetting the line before installation guarantees the epoxy resin will bond with the host pipe. Shelton Plumbing was initially paying a subcontractor $15,000 a year to jet lines before installation. In 2017, Shelton purchased their own Spartan Warrior trailer jetter to save on those costs. It increased revenue for their company immediately. Josh says, “[It’s] one of the best investments [we’ve made] to date. Amazing machine that makes quick work of any job!”

The Warrior has played a critical role in the company’s success. As is common in the plumbing industry, it’s a struggle for Shelton Plumbing to find capable people invested in the trade. Josh says, “The members of our team deserve to use equipment worthy to get the job done with quality and speed.”

Shelton Plumbing’s core values are quality, service, and price. Their vision for the future is to work toward better options for their customers. For example, if a sewer has root intrusions, it is typical to offer the customer one solution and one price. Shelton would like to offer them options. Full excavation and replacement is the most costly option. They would also offer sewer lining and rehabilitation as a less expensive option. If the customer is very concerned with price, the most economical option would be installing cleanouts and using the Warrior jetter to clean the line, followed by applications of a foaming root killer in the spring and fall. Shelton Plumbing feels that multiple options provide a pricing structure that gives the customer a full selection of choices that fit their budget and needs.

Josh’s advice to other pros who are looking to grow their businesses to is take care of their employees. He says, “The customer between the customer is our employees. They need to be taken care of.” This value has driven the company’s decision not to offer 24-hour emergency service. Shelton wants to give his employees weekends and evenings free for family and down time. He remembers a mentor once telling him, “No one ever said on their deathbed, ‘I wish I’d spent more time at the office.’” For Shelton Plumbing, good quality of life for their employees is just as important as customer satisfaction. In fact, satisfied employees lead to satisfied customers!

For Shelton Plumbing, the best is yet to come – and we’re happy to be part of their success!

It is well documented that there is a shortage of people going into the skilled trades^[1],[2],[3]. Different theories for this shortage have been suggested, with the two most popular seeming to be the push for everyone to go to college and that many tradespeople changed careers following the Great Recession of a decade ago. Whatever the cause, we have heard multiple employers bemoan the search for men and women willing to enter the drain cleaning industry.

Why should people consider a career in drain cleaning? That question is best answered by the people currently on the job. When asked, those people working in the industry cited several benefits: good pay, college degree not needed, the potential to run your own company, and a recession-proof industry among other reasons.

The average cost charged for a job can vary widely based on the type of job and the region of the country. The same can be said about the average pay for a sewer and drain cleaner. We surveyed drain cleaners and plumbers from across the country about what they charge for various jobs and what the average pay is for drain cleaning. Cleaning residential lines with a cable machine is the most common job encountered by most drain cleaners. For these types of jobs, the charge is generally in the range of $75 to $130 per hour or a flat fee of $99 to $350. Jetting jobs require more powerful and expensive equipment, therefore the charge is higher. On average, a 1 to2 hour job with a portable jetter (residential or small commercial) is between $200 and $400 for the first hour, with additional hours costing less. A one to two hour job with a skid mount or trailer jet (larger commercial and municipalities) runs between $500 and $800 per hour.

The pay for a drain cleaner can vary from $12 to $43.50 per hour, with the average being between $16.83 and $22.81 per hour^[4],[5] depending on the level of experience and region of the country. This equates to $25,000 to $90,000 annually. As with most jobs, one’s pay will increase as experience and seniority increase. Technicians who work for larger companies may have the opportunity to move into training of new technicians or into management.

Besides the opportunity for good pay, another perk considered by some drain cleaners is the opportunity to work for yourself. To start your own drain cleaning business you have to consider the cost of the machines, transportation, advertisement, insurance, and billing. Quality cable machines can run from $300 to over $4,000 plus accessories. However, a drain cleaner can start a small business with just a few machines and a work vehicle, which makes it attainable for many people who are willing to work hard to be their own boss.

Many of these businesses are family-run, where a husband and wife will run the business together, doing both the drain cleaning jobs and the bookkeeping. Sometimes other family members will help out, including sons and daughters, passing the family business from one generation to the next.

Finally, there is job security in drain cleaning. This is a job that can’t be outsourced. Drain cleaners serve their immediate communities, and often know their customers personally. When you provide great service, especially in a small community, word travels fast and a business can flourish. And drains don’t stop getting clogged when the country is in a recession. While customers may wait until the situation is a crisis before calling a drain cleaner, they MUST call one when the toilet won’t flush or the sewer line has backed up into the basement.

At the time of this writing, Indeed.com had 1,425 drain cleaner technician jobs listed all across the U.S. with many companies saying they are willing to train new techs. This is a career that won’t be going down the toilet!

[1] https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2018/04/25/605092520/high-paying-trade-jobs-sit-empty-while-high-school-grads-line-up-for-university

[2] http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/columnists/ct-trades-jobs-shortage-robert-reed-0822-biz-20170821-column.html

[3] https://www.plumbermag.com/how-to-articles/small_business_marketing_plumbing/phcc_addresses_workforce_shortage

[4] https://www.indeed.com/salaries/Sewer-System-&-Drain-Cleaning-Technician-Salaries

[5] https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Roto–rooter-Plumbing-&-Drain-Service/salaries

All Clear Septic and Wastewater Services have Title 5 Septic Inspections for people selling their properties today in Fairhaven, New Bedford, Fall River, Mattapoisett and Marion. We also have a septic inspection scheduled in Westport Ma because their property has had an increase in flow so an inspection was required. As stated on the Mas […]

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All Clear Septic and Wastewater Services have septic pumping appointments in Berlin, Bolton, Clinton, Northborough, Sterling and Maynard today. All septic systems must be pumped to continue to operate correctly and it is usually recommended that you have your system pumped every 3-5 years depending on a variety of factors including the size of your […]

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All Clear Septic and Wastewater Services were contacted by a customer in Westport, MA who had noticed sewage smells and damp patches in their backyard over their leach field so were concerned that they may have a septic problem. Further discussion revealed that they had noticed slow drains and much greener grass in their backyard […]

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All Clear Septic and Wastewater Services has extensive experience operating in the septic industry in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. We have built an excellent reputation and established relationships and gained the trust of our clients. This may seem unnecessary for a septic company however we service clients’ septic systems and many of our them have […]

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All Clear Septic and Wastewater Services have been called out to a customer property in Attleboro MA to provide septic cleaning and pumping. Septic pumping will remove all of the sludge from the property’s septic tank which can not be processed like the liquid waste is. However septic cleaning takes the pumping one step further […]

The post Septic Cleaning and Septic Pumping In Attleboro MA appeared first on All Clear Septic.

All Clear Septic and Wastewater Services have a professional team of licensed and certified technicians who are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Just call our Emergency Service Center day or night at 508-763-4431 and we will send someone out to take care of your emergency septic problems right away. We […]

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All Clear Septic and Wastewater Services has septic inspections scheduled for customers in Rhode Island. Whether you are selling or buying a home or a commercial property that is supported with its own septic system or if you just want to know the status of your septic system we are able to provide you with […]

The post Rhode Island Septic Inspections For Homes And Commercial Properties appeared first on All Clear Septic.

All Clear Septic and Wastewater Services welcome in this new month with a pinch and a punch! It is the second half of the year already and we are as busy as we have ever been with septic inspections, septic pumping and cleaning, septic services and septic repairs. While we welcome the business we also […]

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All Clear Septic and Wastewater Services are providing a septic design to a customer today in Portsmouth RI. We have experienced engineers working for us who have worked in this region for many years so they know the rules and regulations that a septic design must comply with. If your septic design is not compliant […]

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All Clear Septic and Wastewater Services know that condominium septic systems have to be inspected every three years in Massachusetts. As stated on the Mass Gov website: Condominiums with 5 or more units – all systems must be inspected every 3 years. Condominiums with fewer units must either inspect all systems every 3 years, or […]

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All Clear Septic and Wastewater Services would like to remember all of the veterans who have served our country on Memorial Day. We respect the sacrifice that they have made for our country and we offer a veterans discount. If you require septic services or if you have any questions about your septic system please […]

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All Clear Septic and Wastewater Services has Septic Functional Inspections scheduled today in Portsmouth, Tiverton, Middletown, Little Compton and Jamestown RI. A functional inspection is used to determine whether a system is adequate to serve the wastewater disposal needs of the household. A septic functional inspection is especially intended for use during a property transfer […]

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Visit our new showroom and warehouse!

11 West Mall

Plainview, NY 11803

Hours:

Monday – Friday

7:30 am – 3:30 pm

Contact:

516.310.4205 Warehouse

815.414.1343 Patrick Connell, Territory Manager

Spartan Tool team members have been working hard over the past several months to open a new showroom and warehouse in Plainview, NY. Patrick Connell, local Territory Manager, says, “We’re honored to serve our customers in the metro New York area. Our new showroom is just one more way we can offer the best customer service in the industry.”

Patrick Connell has been with Spartan Tool since 2011. He first operated a Spartan Model 300 at 16 years old. With 15 years in the sewer and drain cleaning industry, Connell has worked in many roles: as a service tech, pipe lining installer, on an excavation crew, and as an operations manager for a company with a fleet of 10 trucks – and all his experience has been in the NYC area. That means that no matter the scale of your business or the scope of your job, he has the experience necessary to assist you.

With all his experience in drain cleaning rather than plumbing, Connell has tremendous knowledge of and respect for the industry. He says, “No one asks to be in the sewer business, but once you learn it you never seem to get out of it. There is always work for someone willing to work. It is pretty much recession-proof.”

The Spartan Tool Showroom & Warehouse is open for Spartan cable machine repair on-site. Depending on the extent of the repair work needed, some repairs can be accomplished while you wait. This means less down time for your business, and more time in the field.

We’re pleased to announce that the Plainview, NY Showroom and Warehouse is equipped for UPS shipping. For customers in the metro New York City area, we can ship most orders with next-day delivery.

The new Spartan Tool Showroom has a full assortment of Spartan cables in stock – the only place you can get genuine Spartan cable in-store. In addition, we are fully stocked with Spartan cable machines. Come in for a demonstration and try one before you buy!

All Clear Septic and Wastewater Services is replacing a D-Box for a customer today in Westport, MA. A septic distribution box (D-Box) is a container used to receive septic system effluent from a septic tank and to re-distribute the effluent into a network of attached drainfield or soakaway bed absorption trenches and pipes. The D-box […]

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All Clear Septic and Wastewater Services has septic pumping scheduled for customers in Hudson, Acton, Wayland, Stow, Maynard, Southborough and Clinton MA today. Signs that your septic system may need a septic pump out include your toilets backing up when there is no apparent reason for it and sewage smells coming from your plumbing. If […]

The post Be Aware Of The Signs That You Need To Schedule Septic Pumping appeared first on All Clear Septic.

All Clear Septic and Wastewater Services has Title 5 Septic Inspections scheduled today in Hingham, Holliston, Millis, Canton, Sharon, Foxboro, and Stoughton MA. A Title 5 Inspection includes: General layout of the system components (location of the building sewer, septic tank or cesspool, distribution box and leaching field); Type of use (e.g., house, school, retail […]

The post Massachusetts Title 5 Inspections Include A Variety Of Information On Your Septic System appeared first on All Clear Septic.

All Clear Septic and Wastewater Services has septic repairs scheduled today including a sewage pump repair and leach field repairs in Fall River, New Bedford, Seekonk, Swansea, Westport, Marion and Mattapoisett MA. We strive to provide our customers with professional, thorough, environmentally responsible and cost effective solutions to their septic problems. If you require a […]

The post We Carry Out Many Septic Repairs Including Sewage Pump Repairs and Leach Field Repairs appeared first on All Clear Septic.

All Clear Septic and Wastewater Services have experienced technicians who not only work in the field installing and replacing septic pumps when necessary but they also repair and refurbish septic pumps in our onsite workshop. We work with many septic pump brands including HiBlow, Blue Diamond and FujiClean. We keep instock different types and sizes […]

The post Septic Pumps Installed, Replaced and Repaired appeared first on All Clear Septic.

All Clear Septic and Wastewater Services make sure that they are upto date with all state and town septic requirements so when they provide a septic design for a residential or commercial customer they can be confident that it meets all state and town septic requirements in addition to those of the property, environment and […]

The post Septic Design For Single Family Home in Acushnet MA appeared first on All Clear Septic.

All Clear Septic and Wastewater Services has been working for many years in Rhode Island on residential and commercial septic systems. Consequently we have extensive experience and knowledge that we utilize when we are called out to a septic repair and have to locate the problem, determine the source of the problem and then provide […]

The post Septic Repairs In Rhode Island Utilizing Our Extensive Septic Knowledge and Experience appeared first on All Clear Septic.