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Nibley water and wastewater operations director reviews system condition, maintenance plan and equipment needs
Summary
City water/wastewater staff outlined system inventory, maintenance schedules, aging meters and hydrants, CCTV inspection benefits, and capital equipment needs during a presentation to the Nibley City Council.
Nibley City water and wastewater staff presented an overview of operations, maintenance priorities and capital needs during the May 1 Nibley City Council meeting.
The presentation, led by Jared Craft of Nibley—s water department, described the utility system and staffing structure, including a rotating daily leadership schedule for operators and an emphasis on cross-training. Craft said the city maintains about 63.6 miles of water pipe (mostly 6- to 18-inch mains), roughly 941 valves and 2,224 water meters. He told the council the meter population is aging and that replacement is a major recurring capital expense.
Craft outlined the city—s hydrant program (25% of hydrants serviced each year), a multi-year valve replacement plan (larger valves expected to take several years to replace), and the department—s approach to well and pump sequencing that saves energy by filling storage tanks during off-peak electricity hours. He also described recent repairs to meter assemblies and well sites and said the department has prioritized safety equipment and training for confined-space and trench work.
On the wastewater side, the city reported approximately 35.25 miles of sewer mains, 908 manholes and three lift stations that pump to Logan. James Cleverley and the wastewater crew described a shift to more in-house closed-circuit television (CCTV) inspections and targeted cleaning based on camera findings. Staff said in-house CCTV reduces water and fuel use compared with contractor cleaning and helps prioritize repairs before lines fail.
Council members asked about causes of blockages and the team pointed to grease and so-called "flushable" wipes as primary sources of trouble. Staff said the city has relatively few large commercial grease sources but that wipes do not dissolve and cause pump and pipe problems.
Staff also discussed other equipment and facility needs: a mobile vacuum/combo truck used for both sewer cleaning and hydro-excavation, a backup generator at a major well, replacement of a skid-steer and wood chipper, and a hydraulic saw and other specialty tools. Crew leaders emphasized that some of those assets are expensive but materially reduce risk and recurring contractor costs.
Council and staff agreed to continue evaluating funding and timing for capital replacements and to include the department—s needs in the capital-improvement and budget process.
