Dover halts drone use for sewer inspections after privacy concerns
Dover halts drone use for sewer inspections after privacy concerns
Publish Date: 2026-05-23 05:02:00
Source Domain: www.fosters.com
May 23, 2026, 5:02 a.m. ET
Drone flights over private property to identify potential areas where stormwater may be entering the sanitary sewer system will not occur as previously planned.
The city has halted the use of drones for this purpose after privacy concerns were raised, according to a community announcement.
Instead, the contracted vendor, Wright-Pierce, will use other methods to identify sources of inflow and infiltration (I/I) into the sewer system.
Alternative methods planned for inspections
Wright-Pierce will contact property owners to request permission to inspect roof drains and other potential sources of I/I that may be entering the sewer system during storm events.
Other planned work includes maintenance hole inspections, video inspections of more than 60,000 feet of sewer pipe, dye-testing, and smoke-testing.
Stormwater connections strain wastewater treatment
The city is required to identify and remove stormwater connections from the sewer system to comply with state and federal permit requirements and protect natural resources like the Great Bay Estuary, according to the announcement.
When excessive stormwater or groundwater enters the sanitary sewer system during rain events, it strains the wastewater treatment facility operations. Since 2000, the city has been working to identify and correct inflow and infiltration into the system.
The greatest flow reductions have been achieved by reducing illegal, direct connections into the sewer system, known as “inflow.” These include roof drains, catch basins, and residential sump pumps. “Infiltration” refers to water seeping through cracked pipes, broken maintenance holes, or utility cover access hatch openings.
A comprehensive follow-up I/I flow study in 2019 identified areas of high-flow inputs in various sub-drainage sheds of the sanitary sewer system, including in and around Bellamy Road, Knox Marsh Road, and Mount Vernon Street. This remains the focus of the vendor’s contracted work.
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