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Officials: aging clay pipe and storm infiltration strain Crowley sewer system; smoke testing, mainline repairs underway
Summary
Wastewater superintendent and city engineer described backups after heavy rain, ongoing smoke testing and targeted mainline repairs to address infiltration and root/grease blockages.
Crowley’s utility committee heard detailed updates Jan. 14 about repeated sewer backups and long-running fixes to an aging system that officials said is vulnerable to infiltration during heavy rain.
Wastewater Superintendent Tim Crater told the committee that dry-day flows average about 1.6–1.7 million gallons but that recent storm events produced much larger inflows: “On the recent rain ... we took in 10,000,000 gallons,” Crater said, using that example to explain why pumps and lines get overwhelmed during storms.
Why it matters: Committee members were told the city’s older clay sewer lines are brittle, prone to cracks and root intrusion, and that repairing one section often reveals or accelerates defects elsewhere. City Engineer Tim Mader and Crater said the problem is common across South Louisiana and expensive to fully replace; they characterized the work as an ongoing, incremental program using rehabilitation, smoke testing and targeted replacements.
Work under way and next steps: Crater reported a recent contractor replacement of a roughly 50-foot section of damaged clay pipe between Avenue I and Tenth with schedule-40 pipe. The department is restarting a recurring smoke-testing program to locate inflow points; public leaks can be fixed by the city, while private-side defects will be referred and coordinated with property owners. Crater also described repeated backups in a subdivision on East and West Andres that he said are caused largely by grease and flushable wipes in private lines; he said staff will meet with the property manager to educate maintenance personnel.
Public-works interplay: Public Works Director Wesley Jacob and Mader described catch-basin and sinkhole repairs, and noted drainage work — tying a front-street tie-in to a catch basin at the pavilion and sinkhole remediation contracts — is proceeding alongside the wastewater fixes. Officials also raised repeated problems from large live oak root intrusion; the mayor noted the city’s tree-protection ordinance includes a clause allowing tree removal when infrastructure is threatened.
No formal committee action was taken; staff said the city will continue smoke testing, targeted mainline replacements and public outreach to property owners about private clean-out maintenance.
