Why Reactive Sewer Maintenance Is Costing Cities More (And How To Fix It) With Kwin Peterson

Kwin Peterson is a Senior Account Manager at RH Borden and Company, a Salt Lake City-based firm applying advanced sensor technology and data-driven solutions to modernize wastewater and sewer systems across the US. He has supported more than 60 collection systems in becoming more efficient through condition-based maintenance and innovative assessment tools. Kwin also serves on the San Francisco Bay Section Collection Systems Committee. Before joining RH Borden, he spent 17 years in the electric utilities industry working in education, public relations, and technical committee support.  In this episode… Many cities still rely on reactive sewer maintenance, which leads to higher costs, increased risks, and frequent emergencies. Despite knowing that preventative maintenance is more effective, budget constraints, cultural habits, and outdated decision-making often keep municipalities stuck in this cycle. Why do so many cities continue choosing short-term savings over long-term efficiency and resilience? Kwin Peterson, an infrastructure expert specializing in wastewater systems, explains that the shift to proactive maintenance begins with understanding the true cost of inaction. Kwin highlights how reactive approaches lead to expensive emergencies, regulatory penalties, and wasted resources, while data-driven strategies enable smarter decisions. By leveraging tools like acoustic assessment and condition-based maintenance, cities can identify problem areas early, reduce unnecessary work, and allocate resources more effectively. He also emphasizes setting clear goals — such as reducing spills or overtime — and leveraging data to build a compelling case for change with decision-makers. In this episode of Saving Our Sewers, Chad Franzen of Rise25 chats with Kwin Peterson, a Senior Account Manager at RH Borden, about transitioning from a reactive approach to a more proactive sewer maintenance strategy. Kwin provides insights on reducing emergency costs, optimizing maintenance with data, and building political will. He also discusses acoustic assessment, condition-based maintenance, and identifying hidden infrastructure risks.