High-Profile’s Anastasia Barnes caught up with Nick Manosh, president of N.A. Manosh Corporation (Manosh) to discuss how the firm is supporting the local communities in Vermont in the wake of recent flooding that has occurred throughout the state. N.A. Manosh Corporation performs water well and construction drilling, and provides water, wastewater and septic services and treatment systems for residential, commercial, municipal, agricultural and industrial clients throughout Vermont and New England.
Anastasia Barnes: Can you provide an overview of the flood support initiatives Manosh has undertaken in Vermont over the past year?
Nick Manosh: Manosh provided over 9,000 tons of rip rap material as well as other gravels and smaller stone for the rebuilding of local municipal roads and supporting the rebuilding of the rail trail.
At Twin State Ford in Saint Johnsbury, Vt., Manosh cleaned multiple catch basins and jetted multiple 15 inch storm drain lines that were completely full from the July flooding.
AB: What specific areas or communities have been the primary focus of your flood support efforts?
NM: Manosh supplied aggregate and dump truck support to all of northern Vermont. On the wastewater side, we traveled to Northern and Southern Vermont to assist the local municipalities with reopening their sanitary systems.
AB: What types of flood mitigation projects have you implemented? Can you highlight some key projects and their outcomes?
NM: For the town of Plainfield, we supplied a Vactor truck to clean storm drains and clogged sanitary lines, removing large amounts of sand and gravel. We supplied Godwin pumps for sanitary bypassing of collapsed lines, one of which continues to bypass a failed siphon line across temporary bridges.
AB: How do you determine which areas or projects to prioritize for flood support?
NM: Manosh typically will check with its local community for any needs, then branch out further as time and equipment allows.
AB: Which government agencies, local organizations, or other partners have you collaborated with on these flood support projects?
NM: Manosh worked closely with the State of Vermont and local Lamoille County municipalities.
AB: Can you describe any challenges or successes in working with these partners?
NM: Access to each customer needing assistance was one of the major issues we would encounter. It’s not always easy to “get there from here” when there are no passable roads in between.
AB: What innovative technologies or methods has Manosh employed to enhance flood resilience in Vermont?
NM: Manosh has just recently added Godwin 4-inch and 6-inch pumps to our available resources. All four of our pumps were out being rented to various municipalities during the flooding to save treatment plant lagoons, and then after for the bypassing of flows until the plants could be up and running again. On the aggregate side, we try to keep the stockpiles growing to meet the needs of all of our customers.
AB: How do you ensure the sustainability and long-term effectiveness of these flood mitigation measures?
NM: We will continue to keep the pumps in house and add to them as needed.
The quarry in Wolcott, Vt. This is a sample of what equipment and manpower within the quarry itself was needed to produce the various aggregate products to stabilize the roads and ditches. There are six excavators, two bucket loaders, multiple crushers and screens, and two haul trucks being used in this photo.
AB: Are there any best practices or recommendations you can share with other companies or agencies involved in flood mitigation?
NM: Move some of your aggregate piles to each end of flood prone sites to allow access to it.
AB: What are Manosh’s plans for continuing flood support in Vermont in the coming years?
NM: Manosh will continue to offer aggregate and trucking. On the wastewater side, we also offer Vactor services for the cleaning of sanitary lines, storm drains and catch basins.
