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PRESS RELEASE
Wachs Water Services and
Pipeline Inspection & Condition Analysis Corporation
(PICA) Form Strategic Alliance to Accelerate Deployment
of Metallic Water Pipeline Inspection Technologies.
Buffalo Grove, IL and Edmonton, AB – July
21, 2011
– Wachs Water Services and Pipeline Inspection &
Condition Analysis Corporation (PICA), today announced
that a strategic alliance has been formed based on a
shared vision of helping utilities better manage aging
water distribution infrastructure. The alliance will
develop and deploy specialized metallic pipeline
inspection technology solutions through collaborative
R&D, manufacturing and marketing.
With an estimated 240,000
water main breaks each year in the United Stated alone,
it is becoming critical for utilities to determine the
actual condition of metallic water mains to proactively
reduce breaks and improve cost effectiveness of water
main repair, lining or replacement programs. The aligned
offering of Wachs Water Services and PICA will provide
water system operators and owners the ability to extend
the reliable life expectancy of water pipelines.
“There are many factors that influence
the condition of a water pipeline. The trick is to have
actual information to determine which segments need to
be replaced, which can be lined and which segments are
still in good shape,” said Cliff Wilson, President,
Wachs Water Services. “We are very excited to have
established this alliance with PICA, and we continue to
build a portfolio of industry leading pipeline
inspection technologies to ensure that our clients have
the right tool for the job.”
PICA technologies can be
applied to either distribution or transmission mains and
provide accurate measurements of the remaining wall
thickness of the pipeline. The patented technologies
travel through the inside of a water main and use an
electromagnetic field that can both detect and size
graphitization, pitting, erosion and cracks - even
through liners, scale and tuberculation. PICA’s metallic
pipeline assessment Hydrasnake™ portfolio offers strong
synergies with Wachs Water Services in-line leak
detection and pressurized main CCTV offerings, the
LDS1000™ and Investigator™.
“We are investing in this
alliance because we believe that there is a tremendous
opportunity for utilities to get ahead of the aging
water infrastructure crisis,” said Dave Russell,
President of PICA. “Our direct condition assessment
services are an integral part of asset management
programs for clients worldwide. Wachs Water Services is
currently delivering several of the largest water
network renewal projects in North America and their
clients will be able to immediately benefit from PICA’s
proven metallic pipeline inspection capabilities as
well”.
“The alliance timing is
excellent as PICA recently opened a new office in
Charlotte North Carolina,” adds Chris Garrett, General
Manager of PICA USA. “There is a growing demand for our
proven pipeline inspection technologies, and this
alliance with Wachs Water Services will allow us to
further expand our footprint to better service the
market.”
Both companies will be showcasing their
latest water main inspection technologies at the
American
Society of Civil Engineers
Annual Pipelines Conference in Seattle, Washington, July
23 - 27, 2011. Additional information can be found at
www.wachsws.com
and
www.picacorp.com.
About Wachs Water
Services
Wachs Water Services is
the leading provider of water distribution system
solutions that significantly improve efficiency and
network control. Our specialized approach combines
condition assessment and rehabilitation services with
the capture and integration of critical water
distribution system GIS information. We provide the
expertise, equipment and personnel to locate, assess,
operate and document any water asset.
The Wachs Water Services
experience is results-driven, allowing utilities to “do
more” with limited budgets. We set the standard for
accurate operational intelligence, bringing an
uncompromising commitment to delivering on our
fastrack2renewal™ brand promise.
About PICA
PICA, and its predecessor
companies (Russell Technologies and Hydroscope Canada
Inc.) have been performing condition assessments of
pipelines in North America since the early 1990’s. Our
specialty is a unique electromagnetic technology,
contained in flexible, pressure sealed, in-line
inspection tools that allows for ferritic pipe materials
(ductile iron, cast-iron and steel) to be inspected for
corrosion pits, graphitization, eroded areas and cracks.
Our global client base consists of water and waste water
pipeline owners and operators who proactively manage
their buried assets to extend their pipelines’ useful
life past the original expected life. They also enjoy
the benefit of being able to place a value on their
buried assets by quantitatively knowing their condition,
and being able to make informed decisions on spot
repairs, rehabilitation or replacement.
Media Contacts:
Dave
Russell
President
PICA: Pipeline Inspection & Condition Analysis Corp.
+1 780-469-4463
drussell@picacorp.com
Chris Garrett
General Manager – PICA USA
+1 704-236-3771
cgarrett@picacorp.com
Michael Stadnyckyj
Director, Strategic Marketing
Wachs Water Services
+1 647-524-4551
mstadnyckyj@wachsws.com |
July 2011 -
Wachs Water Services and PICA Form Strategic Alliance
