Drones to identify failing infrastructure in New Paltz

L-R: Village of New Paltz DPW staff John Lawlor, Ted Nitza from Walden Engineering and Scott Harrigan from Harkin Aerial.

The Village of New Paltz is participating in a study with Walden Environmental Engineering and Harkin Aeriel. Drones with thermal cameras will be used to try to locate leaking underground water and sewer piping. Those involved are looking to replicate a study performed in the UK, and it’s believed this will be one of the first studies of its kind in the US. The study from the UK can be found at: https://www.texodroneservices.co.uk/…/anglianwater_leakrepo…There will be no cost to the village.

Drones will be flown at ten mph or less over municipal property, properties where the village holds easements or public right of ways. Investigations will take approximately an hour and the project is expected to be done within a week this December. 

The plan for the study includes three water mains, the reservoir on Mountain Rest Road and one sewer force main. According to New Paltz Mayor Tim Rogers, the following locations have been selected as candidates because they are believed to be troubled areas or may be useful for benchmarking:

• Henry W Dubois pump station to North Manheim (sewer force main on Henry W Dubois)

• Broadhead to Bonticou (sewer force main — southbound side of North Chestnut)

• Broadhead to Bonticou (water main — northbound side of North Chestnut)

• Main Street (water main — east of North Front to approximately Oakwood)

• Prospect (water main — from Main Street to Henry W Dubois)

• North Manheim (water main — from Main Street to Henry W Dubois)

• From Morning Star East across Canaan Road to the pump station at the aqueduct (12’’ water main)