CIT Sewer Solutions
A CIT technician runs equipment into an open manhole during a residential service area inspection.

Planning guide

What is the difference between a MACP Level 1 and a Level 2 manhole assessment?

MACP is the Manhole Assessment Certification Program, the standard that NASSCO, the National Association of Sewer Service Companies, publishes for recording the condition of a manhole. A Level 1 assessment records basic information and the general condition of each manhole, so your city can decide which manholes need a Level 2 assessment. A Level 2 assessment records each component of your manhole in detail and codes its defects, which gives your engineer the information to plan rehabilitation.

01

Which parts of your manhole does an assessment record?

An assessment follows your manhole from the surface down. The frame supports the cover. The chimney is the adjustment section below the frame. The cone narrows your manhole between the chimney and the walls. Your sewer pipes connect through the walls. At the base, the channel carries flow across your manhole, the bench is the surface beside the channel, and the invert is the lowest point of the flow path.

The inspection looks for leakage, deteriorated surfaces, damaged components, and leaking or damaged pipe connections.

02

How does CIT capture the condition of your manhole?

Our crew centers an illuminated 360-degree camera over the opening and lowers it from the surface to record the visible interior. Each capture is tied to your manhole's identifier. A technician reviews the capture and the recorded conditions.

03

What does the municipal manhole assessment program include?

Our municipal manhole assessment program uses SewerAI and includes the MACP Level 1 or Level 2 assessment your city selects, a 3D model and point cloud of each manhole, shareable condition reports, and geographic information system (GIS)-ready data.

The 3D model lets your staff revisit the recorded manhole from the office. It shows what the camera recorded. It is not a survey-grade measurement.

04

Which MACP level should your city choose?

Level 1 suits a first pass across many manholes, when your city needs the general condition of each one. Level 2 suits the manholes your engineer is preparing to rehabilitate or include in bid documents, because it codes each component.

If your staff want to evaluate the reports and models first, the program can begin with a pilot of roughly 10 to 25 manholes.

05

What does a manhole assessment not establish?

An assessment records visible conditions. It does not certify that your manhole is watertight, and it does not measure its structural capacity or the soil around it.

Leakage at a manhole can be one part of a wider wet-weather problem. Temporary flow monitoring can compare the sewer areas those manholes serve.

This guide was last updated on November 12, 2026.

Ask us about a MACP assessment of your manholes.

Does a manhole assessment include repairs?
No. The assessment identifies the manholes that have leakage or deterioration to repair. We provide manhole and structure grouting for suitable leakage as a separate service.
Can CIT inspect one manhole without the municipal program?
Yes. A basic 360-degree visual inspection of one manhole is a separate scope from the municipal assessment program.

Discuss your assessment

Plan a manhole assessment for your city.

Tell us your project location, the number of manholes, the maps you have, and the assessment level your engineer requires.

Call 515-434-2248