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Lake Wales Public Works outlines emergency sewer repairs and water-plant replacements; Tillman Avenue paving delayed for storm pipe work
Summary
Public Works Director Sarah Kirkland told commissioners the city is conducting emergency repairs to older gravity sewer lines to address infiltration and intrusion (I&I), replacing large valves at Water Treatment Plant No. 1, and replacing chlorine storage tanks that were last changed in 2008.
Public Works Director Sarah Kirkland told commissioners the city is conducting emergency repairs to older gravity sewer lines to address infiltration and intrusion (I&I), replacing large valves at Water Treatment Plant No. 1, and replacing chlorine storage tanks that were last changed in 2008. She also explained why a short segment of Tillman Avenue did not get paved: the city will repair an underlying storm pipe and coordinate with an upcoming Florida Department of Transportation project before finishing the repave.
Kirkland said the city contracted television inspection ("TV") work on roughly 115,000 feet of gravity sewer line; about 105,000 feet had been completed when crews discovered locations requiring immediate repair. "We need to go ahead and get these repaired so that it doesn't compromise the other infrastructure that's on top of it," she said, noting some lines lie beneath recently repaved roads.
On water-plant equipment, Kirkland said the city needs a 12-inch gate valve and a 12-inch check valve at Water Treatment Plant No. 1. She noted the system’s largest line is a 24-inch pipe and described these valves as large, routine replacements for long-service infrastructure. Kirkland also reported that chlorine tanks at the same plant were last replaced in February 2008 and must be replaced due to age and chemical wear.
Kirkland addressed a question about a strip of Tillman Avenue that was not paved in the current contract. She explained a storm pipe under that portion requires repair and the city coordinated scheduling with the street superintendent and the paving crew so crews do not repave then tear up the road. She added a Florida Department of Transportation project at Tillman and Scenic is expected to go to bid in February and the city will return to complete paving after the storm-pipe repair and DOT work are finished.
Why it matters: repairing sewer lines and replacing key water-plant components protects public health, preserves recently completed paving projects and avoids more costly, repeat repairs.
