Built to Outlast.
Engineered to Outperform.
Built to Outlast.
Engineered to Outperform.
Buying a sewer jetter is different for public works than it is for a plumbing contractor. A contractor’s machine may run every day, but a municipal jetter might sit in the equipment shed for weeks between jobs until a lift station plugs, or a storm drain backs up after heavy rain. It might sit until scheduled maintenance in the spring.
When that time comes, the machine has to start.
“After Helene, we were dealing with temporary solutions all around town, not just this main. And when it froze, we didn’t have a lot of options except to work the blockage. My crew stayed with it for 48 hours, without stopping. If I had my say, Harben is all we’d buy.”
Tim Sexton
City Utilities Supervisor at Hendersonville, North Carolina
Choosing a municipal sewer jetter is a long-term commitment and ties up valuable department dollars. Here’s how we recommend evaluating a sewer jetter before making a purchase.
The first and most important decision you make will be the pump. The pump will decide how often the machine is in service, how much maintenance it requires, and ultimately how much it costs to own.
At the heart of every Harben sewer jetter is its European-engineered radial piston diaphragm pump. It is what makes Harben fundamentally different from competing jetters and is the foundation for longer service intervals, true run-dry capability, fewer wear components and exceptional reliability, even when the machine isn’t used every day.
A sewer jetter may spend weeks parked in the equipment yard before being called up to service. When that call comes, crews need a machine that’s ready to work and starts with no problem. Harben’s radial piston diaphragm pump is engineered for exceptional reliability, with fewer wear components and dramatically longer service intervals than competing pumps.
Harben reinforces that engineering advantage with an industry-leading 5-year pump warranty, the longest available on a sewer jetter. Competing warranties are typically much shorter. For municipalities, that combination of durability, lower maintenance requirements and long-term warranty protection makes Harben the stronger choice.
| What You’re Buying | Harben Radial Piston Diaphragm Pump | Competitors Pump |
| Pump Maintenance | Every 1,000 Hours | Every 100-200 Hours |
| True run-dry capability | Yes | No |
| Wear components | Fewer wear components | Packing, seals, valves |
| Pump warranty | 5 years | 1-2 Years |
Harben backs its radial piston diaphragm pump with an industry-leading 5-year warranty. That warranty is dramatically longer than the coverage offered on competing pumps, and it gives municipalities clear proof of how confident Harben is in its equipment years after the purchase.
For those municipalities budgeting for equipment expected to last for years, the warranty should carry as much weight as the specification sheet.
With Harben’s radial piston diaphragm pump providing the foundation for durability and reliability, the next major consideration is the engine that drives it. Municipal fleets need proven engines with established service networks and readily available parts.
Harben offers Kubota and Hatz diesel engines. These are engines municipalities already know, making service and long-term support straightforward. A dependable pump paired with a dependable engine gives operators confidence every time they turn the key even if the machine has been sitting.
“Thanks to Elliott Equipment Co. and Harben Inc. for supplying our 4000 psi Harben® trailer jet machine. We recently had to help out a neighboring community with our jetter as they weren’t able to clear a plugged sewer line with other types of sewer equipment. When you have a big job and inclement weather, I would recommend Elliott Equipment Co. and Harben jetters to help provide you with the equipment to get the job done.”
Bob Milroy
City of Clinton, Iowa
Harben gives municipalities several ways to configure a reliable sewer jetter around the needs of the department. A smaller city may choose a trailer jetter that can be shared between sewer maintenance, public works and utility departments, while larger cities with dedicated sewer crews may find a truck-mounted Harben better suited for daily operation. Harben offers options to build a rig that fits the need.
“We bought a used Truck-Mounted Harben Jetter in 2001, and it’s been used almost every day for the last 15 years. I’ve worked for the City of Prineville, Oregon for the past 9 years as the Maintenance Manager, and the Harben unit has required very little maintenance. We liked it so much we just bought a brand-new Harben Truck-Mounted Jetter.”
James Blanchard
Maintenance Manager at City of Prineville, Oregon
For many municipalities, a Harben 18 GPM / 4,000 PSI trailer jetter with a 375-gallon tank offers an excellent balance of cleaning performance, mobility and operating cost. It has the versatility to clean everything from storm drains and lift stations to sewer mains, while handling pipe sizes from 2 to 18 inches.
This is where Harben’s radial piston diaphragm design changes the ownership experience. Longer service intervals, fewer wear components and less time in the shop can substantially reduce the maintenance burden over years of municipal service.
Harben gives public agencies several ways to simplify the purchase. Some cities use cooperative purchasing contracts to simplify procurement and reduce bidding time. Harben equipment is available through multiple cooperative purchasing programs, making it easier for public agencies to buy equipment while following established purchasing procedures. Harben partners with HGACBuy, COSTARS, and North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association Cooperative Purchasing Program.
For departments that prefer to spread capital costs over time, financing options are also available. Whether you’re purchasing through a cooperative contract, a traditional bid process, or financing a new machine, your local Harben dealer can help identify the best purchasing option for your department and budget.
Every equipment purchase is an investment of public dollars. Invest in a machine that delivers dependable service, stands up to years of hard use by multiple crews, and continues protecting your budget long after the purchase order is signed.
Start with Harben’s radial piston diaphragm pump, the design that delivers longer service intervals, fewer wear components, true run-dry capability and the industry’s longest pump warranty. For a municipal department that needs its equipment to work when the call comes, Harben is built to be the better long-term choice.
For more than 40 years, Harben has built sewer jetters for professionals who need dependable performance over the long haul. A municipal sewer jetter isn’t just another equipment purchase. It’s a machine your crews and your community may depend on for years. Harben is built for exactly that responsibility.