NASSCO Report – Lateral Rehabilitation Committee

As NASSCO enters its 2021/2022 fiscal year, the Board of Directors has assigned specific goals designed to achieve NASSCO’s vision to be the underground infrastructure industry source for education, technical resources and advocacy. The NASSCO Lateral Rehabilitation Committee, comprised of 45 active NASSCO members, is pushing forward with our goals for the upcoming year:

1. Develop an educational video on lateral rehabilitation technology


2. Update NASSCO Specification Guidelines for Lateral Lining


3. Update NASSCO’s Lateral Overview Document


4. Monitor Plumbing Codes


5. Support other NASSCO Committees on matters of laterals, including curriculum content for NASSCO’s Workforce Development Committee

NASSCO’s mission is to set standards for the assessment, maintenance and rehabilitation of underground infrastructure and to assure the continued acceptance and growth of trenchless technologies. Each of the five Lateral Rehabilitation Committee goals listed above work to support this mission. For example, the development of an educational video on lateral rehabilitation technologies will allow people to learn about the various trenchless solutions that exist in the marketplace. This video will include an overview of grouting, Cured-In-Place-Pipe (CIPP), pipe bursting and slip lining, and their respective features and benefits.

Updating the NASSCO Specification Guideline for Lateral Lining Rehabilitation will allow for the inclusion of updated requirements, products and technologies that are used in the industry today. Trenchless technologies are constantly developing and updating the NASSCO Guidelines is always an ongoing process. The same can be said for the overview document.

NASSCO is also a member of industry plumbing and standards groups such as IAPMO, ASTM and others, and we attempt to maintain consistency between these groups, specifications and technologies as much as possible. Member representation in these parallel groups allows for the sharing of technologies and products throughout the industry from both the private and public perspectives.

NASSCO is also attempting to develop a workforce that can support the ongoing needs for new employees within our industry. This is a difficult, but necessary, process to help feed new blood and younger personnel into the construction industry. And now, more than ever, finding new, qualified, and capable employees is extremely difficult. The lateral Committee will provide support to aid this cause and help to attract new professionals into the industry.

Finally, NASSCO’s Lateral Committee has formed a special workgroup to address lateral inspections for real estate transactions which are becoming required more frequently on a state level. This workgroup is developing guidelines for plumbers doing the inspections, as well as for cities to manage the work being done. A second workgroup focuses on a Manual of Practice for laterals.

If you are a member of NASSCO and would like to be part of the Lateral Committee, please email lisa@nassco.org. If you are not yet a NASSCO member, please join today at nassco.org.