City technicians using the Mud Dog to inspect pipes on Harris Ave.

If you hear a loud sucking sound in your Richland neighborhood, it could be a Mud Dog 1200. Richland technicians are using the big vacuum excavator truck for water pipe inspections. Approximately 370 locations in the city will be checked to confirm that no pipes have lead.

To meet the EPA regulatory requirements of the Lead and Copper Rule, the city will use the Mud Dog to vacuum up the area on both the city and the customers side so that the service pipes can be inspected, photographed and recorded.

“It is important to note that at this time, no lead infrastructure has been identified in the City of Richland, nor do we anticipate locating any,” according to information on the city website.

The website states, “The work will be performed from late June 2024 – September 2024. Those neighborhoods and addresses directly impacted will be notified via email.”