Manhole Inspection Unit

The City of St. Petersburg is seeking quotes from qualified vendors to supply a manhole inspection camera system for the Water Resources Department to assist with the inspection of the collection system’s 19,406 manholes. The system will enable high-quality visual inspection, data collection, and reporting of underground assets, including sewer and stormwater systems, in compliance with industry standards. These are essential for municipalities to maintain and protect critical wastewater infrastructure. These systems utilize advanced camera technology to perform rapid, non-entry inspections that assess structural condition, identify inflow and infiltration (I&I), and detect defects such as cracks, corrosion, and root intrusion. In Florida, where high groundwater levels and heavy rainfall significantly increase the risk of system overloads and sanitary sewer overflows, manhole scanning provides a proactive solution to locate and address vulnerabilities before they escalate into costly failures. This technology improves worker safety by eliminating confined space entry, while increasing inspection efficiency and reducing labor, traffic control, and operational costs.

The use of manhole scanning systems supports compliance with regulatory requirements from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), while providing standardized, digital inspection data that integrates with municipal asset management and GIS programs. This enables agencies to prioritize rehabilitation, optimize capital improvement planning, and extend the service life of sewer systems. As a widely adopted solution across municipalities, manhole scanning systems represent a proven and cost-effective approach to infrastructure management.