It's a dirty job, and now nobody's got to do it. Climbing into manholes on a regular basis could be a thing of the past for employees of the Peachtree City Water and Sewerage Authority, now that an important piece of equipment has been added to its maintenance arsenal. WASA Director Larry Turner will present a new sewer vacuum truck to the board members at Monday night's regular monthly meeting.

The $175,000 acquisition is the first of its kind to be owned by the system, and Turner expects it to start paying dividends soon. "In a system this size, I would consider it standard equipment," said Turner. By allowing workers to operate it from the street while it cleans out roots, grease and other items that cause backup problems, the truck will make it possible for maintenance to be done without anyone physically going underground. A jet pressure cleaner has been used in the past, but workers still had to get into the manholes and manually clean them out. With such possible problems as methane buildup, anything that keeps the workers above ground improves safety, Turner noted.

The vehicle, unlike most public works trucks that accumulate hundreds of thousands of miles in a relatively short period of time, will be used in specific areas and should pay off for a long time. "At least ten years, if not longer," said Turner. Problems that require its use will be documented on maps, and regular maintenance schedules will eventually be set up around the city.

Roots, which gravitate toward water and get into underground pipes, make up one of the primary problems that cause backups, along with grease buildup. These problems are continuous, Turner said, and necessitate regular maintenance.

The truck's manufacturer, Vac-Con, is based in Florida. A total of four bids were submitted and two met specifications. The Vac-Con truck was the lowest of those two bids.