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Balch Springs approves $120,000 sewer assessment, $140,000 pipe work amendment and $60,000 camera purchase for drainage monitoring
Summary
Council approved a citywide sewer-collection assessment contract and related work plus a camera purchase to help locate inflow and infiltration causing overflows.
The Balch Springs City Council approved three measures aimed at locating and reducing stormwater inflow into the city’s sewer system: a contract for a citywide sewer-collection assessment, an amendment adding two wastewater mains to a pipe-replacement contract, and the purchase of a specialized inspection camera.
Council approved a contract with R&H Boring Smart Solutions LLC (referred in staff materials as R&H Boarding/Smart Solutions) to conduct a system-wide assessment of the sewer collection system not to exceed $120,000. The work will be funded from the wastewater capital fund and will use a network of sensors placed in manholes to identify where inflow and infiltration (I&I) enter the system during rain events, staff said. Colton Stewart, representing the vendor, told council the sensors and data platform can isolate manhole-to-manhole locations for targeted repairs.
The council also amended an existing contract with TMS Utility LLC to add two additional wastewater-main replacements at a cost not to exceed $140,000, to be paid from wastewater capital improvements. Staff said TMS is already on site for prior pipe-bursting work and can extend the same pricing and quick turnaround to the two additional lines, one described as an emergency due to a collapsing segment that is delaying a private development.
Separately, the council authorized purchase of a 2025 Q's FlexiTrax C550C inspection camera from CLS Equipment Company through the BuyBoard cooperative, not to exceed $60,000, to be paid from the storm-drainage fund. Staff said the camera will allow in-house televising of large mains and supply footage faster and less expensively than hourly contractors; staff estimated contracted TV’ing would cost about $725 per hour.
During discussion council members asked about timing. Staff said the sensor installations can begin within about a week in two phases; the team expects to capture meaningful rain-event data in spring storms, though if spring is dry the dataset might extend into later months. Staff emphasized that locating inflow is the first step; repairs and upsizing to correct I&I will require follow-on construction and funding.
All three measures passed with council approval.
