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Sewer backups prompt costly repairs after Comanche splash pad startup; staff to return with camera report and cost options
Summary
After startup of the new splash pad, crews found root intrusion and wipes clogging a clay tile sewer line near 14th Place and Hiawatha. A contractor’s camera-based estimate for the identified repairs ranges from about $110,000 to $144,000 for the affected run; staff described interim maintenance plans and said lining may be a less expensive alternative to open replacement.
Public works staff told the council that a run of sewer built in the mid-1960s near 14th Place and Hiawatha experienced backups shortly after the city began running the new splash pad. The city ran jetter equipment and contracted Klein Sewer to provide camera inspections and an estimate for repair work.
Klein’s camera footage, staff said, shows root intrusion and wipes collecting on the roots; the jetter punctured a 2–3 inch hole in a 10-inch pipe but the obstruction remained. Klein provided a high-end estimate for all identified repairs of roughly $110,000–$144,000 for several blocks of pipe. Staff also reported they can achieve temporary clearing with jetting and plan to schedule more frequent maintenance (every 3–6 months) on the affected line while a funding approach is developed.
Public works recommended options that include targeted lining (which avoids digging), phased quadrant-based cleaning and lining every four years, purchasing specialized cutting bits for the city jetter, or contracting periodic cleanup. Staff cautioned that a camera truck and trailer can cost in the low six-figures (one quoted $212,000) and that some residence service connections may require a resident to replace an improperly installed stub that sits too high in the main pipe.
Council discussion focused on scale and funding: staff said the city has no immediate budgeted amount for large-scale fixes and would need to identify funding sources or phase work over multiple years; staff will return with the full camera report and a prioritized list of repairs and cost estimates.
Next steps: Klein’s full report will be delivered to staff, who will prepare options and costs for council review. Staff recommended a programmatic approach—sectioning the city into quadrants and performing camera and clearing work on a rolling schedule while pursuing liner options and evaluating funding mechanisms.
