One Product Line. Multiple Field Applications.

The “Swiss Army knife” analogy gets overused.

But when a product consistently solves multiple real-world problems in the field, the comparison starts to make sense.

Most municipalities first think about manhole inserts in terms of inflow and infiltration control. That remains the core application, especially during rain events where unwanted stormwater can overwhelm sanitary sewer systems.

In practice, though, inserts are often being used for much more than that.

Depending on field conditions, municipalities and contractors use Rainstopper inserts to help address flood mitigation, sewer odors, construction debris, and grease-related sewer issues across collection systems.

Here are a few examples of how inserts are being used in the field today.

Inflow & Infiltration Control

This is the primary application for most insert installations.

Manhole inserts help reduce unwanted stormwater entering the sanitary sewer system during heavy rain events, helping municipalities manage treatment capacity, reduce system strain, and limit inflow-related overloading.

Flood Mitigation

In flood-prone environments, inserts can also play a role in protecting infrastructure during major storm events.

Following Hurricane Sandy, Rainstopper worked directly with the MTA to develop custom inserts for New York infrastructure. More than 250 units were installed across all five boroughs and remain in service today.

Construction Debris Control

Active construction sites often introduce sediment, concrete splatter, dirt, and fine debris into nearby manholes.

Using inserts at the structure level can help prevent material from moving deeper into the collection system, where cleanup becomes significantly more difficult and costly.

Sewer Odor Management

Hydrogen sulfide and other sewer gases escape wherever they find an opening within the system.

Manhole inserts can help contain uncontrolled odor release while directing airflow toward odor treatment systems, including media-based odor control solutions such as OdorKnocker RX.

Grease Trap Backup Protection

In areas with restaurants, schools, institutional kitchens, or other high-FOG environments, grease-related sewer issues often surface first at the nearest downstream manhole.

HDPE inserts can provide an added layer of downstream protection by helping manage debris and floating material before it moves farther into the system.