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Utility superintendent outlines water and wastewater projects, meter replacements and NDOT impacts
Summary
Brian Jackson gave a detailed update on Division A–C water projects, tank rehab costs covered by loan interest, ongoing meter replacements, wastewater repairs, NDOT relocations, and upcoming lift-station and SCADA work.
Brian Jackson, Madison’s utility superintendent, briefed the Common Council Tuesday on the city’s ongoing water and wastewater capital projects and operational work.
Jackson said Division A (treatment-plant electrical and control upgrades and new flow meters) is complete aside from a small retainage. Division C (waterline replacements, including Flint Street, Hillcrest Drive and Sunrise Subdivision) is complete; Division B (tank and tower rehabilitation and painting) remains open after crews discovered a failing roof on the east million-gallon tank and added roughly $300,000 in repair scope. Jackson said the added cost will be covered from interest earned on loan proceeds for the water project, not from operating funds.
On distribution system work, Jackson said the Sunrise Subdivision loop will improve fire safety by adding a redundancy and installing new hydrants and valves. He said the utility replaces roughly 600 residential meters per year and currently still reads about 900 meters manually; the city is migrating older meters to a cellular reading platform.
On wastewater, Jackson reviewed recent primary clarifier rehabilitation (East in 2024; West in 2023), lift-station upgrades, and pilot installations of a “wet well wizard” to reduce fats, oils and grease in heavily used lift stations. He said the city has started replacing failing sewer lines and manholes downtown and planned repairs to an aerial sewer on Terrace Drive where concrete piers supporting a ductile-iron pipe are failing.
Jackson also reported NDOT-driven relocations: a fire hydrant removal at Riverview Drive for a State Road 62 intersection project and a required waterline relocation near a Grody culvert because new wing walls will conflict with the existing pipe. He said NDOT typically does not fund relocations and the city must move its line within the right of way; he has a quote and schedule in hand.
Other upcoming items include SCADA and PLC upgrades at the treatment plant, replacement of an aged pump at Hereford, hatch-lid safety repairs, and a Wells Drive lift-station wall coating to buy years before major structural work. Jackson said the city is considering installing a permanent bypass at Wells Drive to support construction and future maintenance. He also described ongoing flow and smoke testing to identify inflow and infiltration sources in the collection system.
Jackson repeatedly emphasized staffing and reliability concerns tied to licensed operators and meter-reading modernization, and said many repairs are driven by the age of downtown vitrified clay sewer lines.
