Sean C. Morgan
A $1.7 million sewer repair and replacement project will begin around Sept. 14.
Public Works Director Mike Adams met with property owners in the affected areas Thursday night to explain the project.
The purpose of the project is to reduce the amount of inflow of storm water and infiltration of ground water into the city?s sewer system, Adams said. The extra wet-weather flow burden is called inflow and infiltration (I&I).
I&I is so severe in Sweet Home during heavy storms that flows exceed the capacity of the city?s treatment plant leading to overflows of untreated sewage into the South Santiam River several times each year.
Reduction of the overflows is required by an agreement with the Department of Environmental Quality in lieu of fines. Under the agreement, the problem must be corrected by October 2007.
The highest estimates place the cost of eliminating I&I at roughly $31 million.
This project and the first phase completed last year will help determine the costs and benefits of reducing I&I through reconstruction and repair of sewer lines versus expanding the treatment plant.
?A primary objective of the demonstration project will be to determine whether significant cost savings can be achieved by focusing on replacement of public mainlines and private service laterals,? Adams said.
The city borrowed $2 million from the state?s revolving clean water fund for the project. An additional loan will pay for the current phase of the demonstration project.
Project areas include Holley Road and south from First and Eighth avenues; Sunset Lane and First Avenue; rerouting of service laterals on First and Second avenues north of Holley Road; rerouting of service laterals and mainline along with storm sewer installation in the alley between 12th and 13th Avenues off Main and Long streets; and Kalmia Street off 18th Avenue.
Not all properties within the project will have service laterals replaced. Replacements will be on a case-by-case basis depending on the condition of the lateral. The mainline in parts of the project will be replaced using a liner. In areas where the city can easily dig up the sewer, the city will replace the mainline.
The project should be completed within 100 days.