Columbia, West Columbia officials outline trenchless cleaning plan for 42-inch sewer under Riverwalk
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Summary
City of Columbia and consultant Black & Veatch told West Columbia council they will clean and inspect about 5,400–5,500 feet of 42-inch sewer beneath the Saluda Riverwalk using trenchless methods, with local work staged in a roughly three-month window and an EPA consent-decree deadline cited for 03/18/2032.
City of Columbia staff and consulting engineers briefed the West Columbia City Council on a planned trenchless cleaning and inspection of a 42-inch gravity sewer that runs roughly between the Jarvis Clapman bridge and the Blossom Street bridge along the Saluda Riverwalk.
John Riggs, deputy director of major capital projects for the City of Columbia and interim utility director, told council the line dates to a contract set about 51 years ago and that the segment targeted is about 5,400–5,500 feet long. “We identified the area of 42-inch pipe about 5,500 feet…that had some debris, some solids build up in the bottom that really didn't allow us to fully assess what we wanted to do,” Riggs said, explaining the cleaning is part of condition assessment work required by an earlier Environmental Protection Agency consent decree.
Todd Carwell, project manager with Black & Veatch, described the work as nondestructive: crews will use vacuum trucks, CCTV cameras and an easement machine to access constrained areas on the Riverwalk. “The work will consist of simply inspection and cleaning. I like to say that it's like cleaning out an artery, plaque out of an artery,” Carwell said. He said the contractor will cone and section work zones during the day and demobilize overnight to minimize disruptions.
Carwell estimated the West Columbia portion would be completed within a roughly three-month window during an overall fall-to-fall schedule; he added the project team will provide a 30-day notice before mobilization and will coordinate traffic control and parking logistics with city staff. Riggs noted the consent-decree deadline tied to related assessments, saying, “03/18/2032 is our deadline for this one,” while adding the intent is to start earlier and avoid last-minute scheduling pressure.
Council members and residents asked about staging, hours and flood contingencies. Carwell said vac trucks will park on adjacent streets during workdays and that the easement machine and hose setup will be used to reach the pipe on the Riverwalk; work would pause if flood conditions remove access. City staff committed to communicating with homeowners and HOAs where access occurs.
The presentation closed with staff promising continued coordination with West Columbia Parks and Recreation and engineering staff, and to issue resident notifications and regular project updates. Council did not take an action on the presentation itself; staff said formal permitting and contractor mobilization schedules will be communicated before work begins.
