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Town officials say new video may allow in‑place repair of East Hartsdale sewer main, avoiding costly reroute
Summary
After new CCTV footage showed better-than-expected pipe condition under an apartment building, town officials said they may repair the East Hartsdale 16‑inch sewer main in place rather than reroute it, potentially avoiding hundreds of thousands in private building costs; final method and cost depend on follow‑up camera work this week.
Town officials briefed residents at the May 19 Greenburgh town board work session that newly obtained CCTV footage suggests the long‑running East Hartsdale sewer main problem may be repaired in place rather than requiring a full reroute around an apartment building.
The video, taken recently by a specialized camera firm retained by the town, showed the interior condition of a 16‑inch sanitary sewer and the collapsed manhole that caused the outage. “We’ve been evaluating the sewer break... we were able to get a much deeper view of what’s actually determined to be bad,” said Frank Barbido, who identified himself as a commissioner of public works; a presenter for the contractor added that the footage made the location of the break clearer.
Why it matters: Officials said an in‑place repair would likely be faster, less disruptive and less expensive than excavating and rerouting the main around the building. Presenters described the technical constraints: the pipe and manholes sit roughly 30 feet deep, ground water is high, and repairs require substantial shoring. The proposed shoring method uses drilled sheet piles (referred to in the meeting as Seacamp piles) and, if needed, jet grouting to minimize dewatering and vibration.
Board members and residents pressed for schedule and cost details. A member of the public who identified himself as Barry Steinbeck, president of 120 (a property association), asked whether an overview drawing could show from the street level where work would occur. Officials committed to share engineering drawings with affected property owners after further camera runs and to avoid work during rush hours.
On cost and who pays: participants relayed two figures from the meeting. A presenter said keeping private sewer laterals undisturbed would save the building owner approximately $600,000; another board member said the building might otherwise be required to contribute about $650,000 to reconnect laterals to a relocated main. Officials cautioned final responsibility and amounts depend on the ultimate chosen method and applicable town rules: “If the town cannot spend public money for private purposes, their laterals ... is their responsibility,” a board member said.
Officials said additional camera inspection — expected Thursday or Friday — and analysis by a Seacamp pile contractor will determine the final method, and that the contractor will provide engineering drawings for a formal plan. The presenters said the emergency bypass system currently routes flow around the break to the county trunk sewer and the Yonkers Joint Treatment Plant while work continues.
Funding: the supervisor said an application submitted through U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand’s office requests $1,500,000 in federal funds to line pipes and extend pipe life; presenters said the immediate repair would come from capital construction/maintenance funds and not necessarily require bonding.
Next step: officials pledged to analyze the new footage, share findings and drawings with affected property owners within about two weeks, and provide frequent community updates. The town did not take a formal vote during the work session.
