Why Routinely Pumping Your Septic Tank Is Important Your septic system is designed to treat wastewater and prevent it from causing pollution in the soil and groundwater. Over time, the wastewater in your septic tank goes through a settling process that separates the solids and scum from the water. If you don’t pump your septic tank routinely, it can lead to serious problems. You could end up with a flooded lawn, backed up drains, and an unhealthy home environment. Prevents Flooding If you are a rural dweller and choose to have a septic tank for your home, it is vital... View Article
The Effects Of Sulfate In Concrete Sulfate is one of the most dangerous forms of deterioration that concrete faces. It infiltrates the concrete through cracks and begins to destroy the cement paste that holds it together. Once in the concrete, sulfate dissolves into water that is present and begins to draw it in. This excess water corrodes the anchor bolts that hold your home’s foundation in place, which can cause significant damage and loss of value. How Sulfate Damages Concrete Sulphate attacks concrete by chemically breaking down cement paste, causing it to expand and crumble. Sulfate-containing salts like sodium sulfate and... View Article
Whether you’re an engineer, manager or mentor, communication is an essential skill. Great communication skills help you deliver complex ideas and technical project plans in a clear, concise manner. Communicating with engineers especially is never a one-size-fits-all thing; it depends on your audience, the situation, and your level of expertise. Here are 5 helpful tips to improve your communications with engineering teams. 1. Know The Problem Before communicating with engineers, know the problem and how it aligns with your company’s vision and strategy. This way, you can make your team understand why they need to get involved and how their... View Article
A water table refers to the pores and fractures within the ground that can become saturated with water. This area is also sometimes called the zone of saturation. A simple explanation would be the depth below where the ground is saturated. Understanding water tables, the different types of water tables, and how they behave is important for many different reasons. Civil engineers use this information to help clients make good choices when planning construction projects. Let’s take a look at one type of water table, the perched water table. Understanding Water Tables Groundwater collects from different sources. It can collect... View Article
When it comes to building a pier or doing any foundation drilling, the right base rock is essential and can make a big difference. If you try to drill for a pier in a stone or sediment layer that is not strong enough, the pier can collapse, and the structure can be unsafe. So, why is bedrock best for pier drilling? Keep reading to find out. Why Is Bedrock Great for a Drilled Pier Foundation? Bedrock is the solid layer of rock beneath the soil and other layers of material on the surface. The bedrock is the base for most of... View Article
HPEC is an active member of CAGE