Council approves yearly I&I micro-detection study to target slip‑lining work after large rain events

The committee approved forwarding a precision infiltration-and-inflow (I&I) micro-detection study to the full council at the Sept. 2 workshop, a monitoring program staff said will be used yearly to locate inflow points and prioritize slip-lining.

Staff described the program: crews place monitoring devices inside manholes for 90 days. The devices detect which manholes and lines are inundated during rain events, helping staff prioritize where to invest in slip-lining rather than relying on response-driven or ad hoc repairs. The work is coordinated with the Missouri Rural Water Association as an apprenticeship and training opportunity for city employees.

Staff noted earlier trial work identified previously unknown I&I in the James Street/Lewis area; they also described a large April rain event in which about 7,200,000 additional gallons entered at Walnut Street and about 7,000,000 gallons on the south side of the system, with the plant treating roughly 18,000,000 gallons during that three-day event. Staff said the micro-detection study helps narrow targets for slip-lining rather than applying the treatment across broad areas.

The committee voted to forward the study for council action (motion by Baer; second by Coulter; voice vote in favor). Staff said the city will repeat the monitoring in different parts of town each year, using findings to schedule slip-lining over multiple years. Staff also said the slip-lining fund contains money and that the city currently budgets annual slip-lining dollars (the transcript cited $3,840,000 per year from the slip-lining fund) to support ongoing work.

No detailed contract was adopted at the workshop; staff will bring the proposed vendor scope, schedule and cost to the full council for approval.