Rupturing a gas line isn’t just an expensive inconvenience; it poses a serious risk to life and property. Greer CPW, a utility company serving Upstate South Carolina, reported a concerning number of damaged lines last year, highlighting the need for greater awareness about damage prevention. The good news is that such incidents are largely avoidable. Homeowners and contractors alike can …
This video showcases a landscaping project in a private yard to address drainage issues with the installation of a new catch basin and culvert pipe. Key points include: Catch Basin Installation: Steps involved in modifying and installing the basin and 12-inch pipes. Utility Challenges: Managing mismarked utilities, emergency utility re-marks, and safely exposing fiber optic and telephone lines using …
Imagine the disruption: a sudden power outage affecting hundreds of homes, a gas leak forcing evacuations, or worse, a worker injured by an electrical strike. These are the real-world consequences of hitting underground utility lines, and they happen far too often. A recent report from PG&E paints a stark picture: nearly 1,300 such incidents occurred in their service area in …
It’s been a busy few days for utilities and damage prevention stakeholders across the US with wildfires, inclement weather and unexpected circumstances. Here’s 10 of the top stories from the last 7 days: Locating Utilities Underground using Electricity: WATCH Are Power Lines to Blame for the California Wildfires?: READ Why the utility industry is running on old tech: READ PGW …
GPRS recently carried out a utility locating and mapping project at the historic McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, ahead of its planned demolition to build a new high school. Project Manager Daniel Sperduti, who has personal ties to the ballpark, utilized electromagnetic (EM) locating and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) to map utilities around the site accurately. Given the age and …
When I talk to friends outside of the utility industry they’re often shocked to learn that the the utility industry, surprisingly lags behind in embracing cutting-edge technology. This reluctance has significant consequences, particularly in damage prevention. One major factor contributing to this technological lag is a deep-seated risk aversion. Maintaining critical infrastructure carries immense responsibility, naturally leading to hesitation when …
We hope your 2025 is off to a safe start! Here’s the latest damage prevention and utility news: Accuracy Over Aesthetics: READ Sunk cost fallacy: READ Western Power network goes underground: READ How locates protect your projects & profitability: READ How to locate low pressure gas lines: READ Residential gas line ruptured near Fort Worth’s NASJRB: READ United Rentals Launches …
“At some older properties you will sometimes find that, even though the gas in the area has been upgraded to high pressure gas, there will still be a low or medium pressure gas pipe, laid underground within the ground of the property. And whilst it probably won’t be connected to the actual gas main anymore, it can still be a …
As we ring in the New Year, many of us reflect on the past – assessing where we’ve been and considering where we want to go. While these reflections are often productive, they can sometimes be hindered by an unrecognized mental trap: the sunk cost fallacy. This cognitive bias encourages us to continue investing time, money, or energy into endeavors …
Merry Christmas and welcome to issue 125 of Utility Alert. Here’s the top 10 stories from the last 7 days in the damage prevention industry… FuzionView Presentation: WATCH Spark of Change? READ Israeli connection gives Engcon pipe detection tech: READ Penelec to receive $500 million as part of infrastructure improvement plan: WATCH The map mindset: why businesses should consider geospatial …