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Utility staff: sewer overflows down sharply after asset-management, pipe-rehab and modeling efforts
Summary
A utility staff member said sewer overflows have fallen about 90% over two decades and about 60% over five years, crediting an asset-management program, targeted pipe rehabilitation using epoxy liners, and computer modeling of the collection system.
A utility staff member said at a briefing that sewer overflows have fallen roughly 90% over the last 20 years, about 60% over the last five years and from about 100 overflows last year to about 50 so far this year.
The staff member attributed the reductions to the utility’s asset management program, a strategy that ties every capital project to measurable system performance, and to targeted rehabilitation methods rather than always upsizing pipes. "Reducing sewer overflows is one of the huge drivers," the staff member said.
Under the approach described, projects are prioritized by the volume of overflow reduction they are expected to produce so the utility can "maximize the dollars" available and address the most valuable projects first. The staff member said this prioritization is informed by a computer model of the entire collection system developed over the past two years to predict what happens when it rains and to identify previously unknown problem locations.
The staff member described a rehabilitation technique the utility is using that involves inserting a fabric liner containing epoxy into existing pipe; the epoxy is cured in place using steam or hot water. That method, the staff member said, allows the utility to repair pipes without full excavation.
The briefing was discussion-oriented; no formal motions or policy decisions were recorded in the provided transcript excerpt. Staff described ongoing implementation steps — asset-management planning, targeted pipe-lining projects and continued modeling — but did not announce a new ordinance, funding allocation or vote during the remarks.
The utility characterized the efforts as continuing work to reduce overflows and to find and fix hidden problems rather than reacting after incidents occur. The staff member said the modeling and rehabilitation work have allowed the utility to locate issues "we didn't know we had" and to prioritize fixes accordingly.
