D-5 Maintaining and Repairing Sanitary and Storm Drainage Systems Introduction

The following terms will be used throughout this section. A complete list of terms for this section can be found in the Glossary.

• auger head: An attachment fitted to the end of a drill rod or casing, designed to bore into the ground and remove soil or sediment during well installation. (Section D-5.1)
• closet auger: A special tool, named after the water closet, used to unclog toilets. It has a long, flexible rod with a spiral end that you insert into the toilet drain. When you turn the handle, the spiral helps break up or remove the blockage. (Section D-5.1)
• combustible gas indicator (CGI): A tool that helps workers find dangerous gases in the air that could catch fire or explode. It keeps people safe by warning them when gas levels are too high. (Section D-5.1)
• cross bore: A cross bore happens when one underground pipe accidentally goes through another pipe. For example, a new pipe might be drilled through a sewer pipe by mistake. This can be dangerous and cause clogs or leaks, so workers check carefully to make sure pipes don’t cross like this. (Section D-5.1)
• digital pipe locator:
• drain auger:
• hand auger: A tool used to dig small holes in the ground. It has a long handle and a sharp, spiral bit at the end that you twist into the soil to make the hole. It’s used for tasks like planting trees or installing posts. (Section D-5.1)
• interface probe: A portable electronic device used to detect the presence and thickness of non-aqueous phase liquids (NAPLs) such as oil floating on groundwater, by distinguishing between water and other fluids. (Section D-5.1)
• lockable well cap: A secure, often tamper-proof cap placed on top of a monitoring well casing to prevent contamination or unauthorized access. (Section D-5.1)
• multi-parameter sonde: A multi-sensor probe used for in situ water quality monitoring, capable of simultaneously measuring variables such as temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity, and conductivity. (Section D-5.1)
• piezometer: A type of well designed specifically to measure groundwater pressure or hydraulic head at a specific depth within an aquifer. (Section D-5.1)
• power drum auger: A machine used to clear blockages in sewer pipes. It has a long, flexible metal cable stored in a drum (a round container) that spins to push the cable through the pipe. A cutting tool on the end helps break up clogs. Large diameter augers are used for big pipes, and small diameter augers are used for smaller household pipes. (Section D-5.1)
• pressure transducer: A device that converts pressure measurements (such as water level) into electrical signals, commonly used to monitor changes in groundwater elevation over time. (Section D-5.1)
• radio transmitter: A device that sends out signals through the air, like a radio station sending music or a walkie-talkie sending messages. It turns electrical signals into radio waves that can travel through the air to other devices, like radios or phones, that can receive and play the signals. (Section D-5.1)
• riser pipe: A vertical pipe that extends from the screened section of a well or piezometer to the surface, allowing access for sampling or measurement instruments. (Section D-5.1)
• screen: (well screen); A perforated section of a well casing that allows groundwater to enter the well while keeping out sediment. (Section D-5.1)
• submersible pump: An electric pump that operates while submerged in groundwater, commonly used to purge wells or collect samples during groundwater monitoring. (Section D-5.1)
• top cap: A protective cover placed on the top of a monitoring well casing, often used in addition to a lockable well cap. (Section D-5.1)
• tubing: Flexible plastic or rubber piping used to convey water from a well to sampling equipment, available in various diameters and materials depending on chemical compatibility. (Section D-5.1)
• Waterloo APS: The Waterloo Advanced Profiling System (APS), a high-resolution system used to collect groundwater samples and measure hydraulic conductivity at multiple depths within a single borehole. (Section D-5.1)
• well casing: A rigid pipe, usually made of PVC or stainless steel, that lines the borehole of a well to maintain its structure and isolate screened intervals. (Section D-5.1)
• well development: The process of cleaning and stabilizing a newly installed monitoring well by removing fine sediments and ensuring good hydraulic connection between the well screen and surrounding aquifer. (Section D-5.1)