Peculiar board approves sewer rehabilitation plan, staff to begin CIPP lining that could cover up to 5 miles

The Peculiar Board of Aldermen on Jan. 5 approved a resolution to begin a sewer-rehabilitation program using cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) lining to address aging clay sewer mains across the city.

City staff told the board that many sewer segments in older neighborhoods (built in the 1960s) are deteriorating and that one known collapsed 500-foot section would cost roughly $200,000 to replace conventionally. Staff described CIPP as a method that lets crews install a new sleeve inside existing pipe without extensive excavation. “We have several areas where we have complete collapse where the sewer is actually getting outside into the ground,” staff said, and added that CIPP point repairs offer a far lower cost per intervention in many locations.

A staff estimate presented to the board put the total project, to address approximately five miles of lines, at about $1,397,500; the presenter stressed this is an approximate number based on known clay-pipe lengths and additional estimated lengths that may require work. Staff said the city could phase the work (spread over years, which raises unit costs through remobilization) or complete the project at once to reduce per-foot cost. “By putting a section off, we could have another one of those pop up this summer,” city staff said, arguing the single-project approach reduces emergency repairs and long-term costs.

Mike Riley, the city’s wastewater treatment plant supervisor, described the operational impacts of inflow and infiltration, telling the board that storm or groundwater entering sanitary lines dilutes wastewater and can more than double flows to the plant in a single-inch rain, which strains treatment equipment and increases operating costs. A contractor representative from SAK Constructions explained the installation process and passed around samples of the CIPP liner for board members to inspect.

Staff also described in-house point repairs to reduce contractor costs; depending on the repair type, those internal repairs could save the city $2,000–$10,000 per point. Staff said an immediate emergency repair will be addressed first and that, once awarded, the project could start in roughly 30 days (subject to weather for any excavation needed for point repairs). Funding would come from the city’s available fund balance/reserve rather than the current-year operating budget, staff said.

The board moved and approved the resolution without recorded opposition. The project is expected to reduce emergency repair frequency and long-term maintenance costs, though exact linear feet to be rehabilitated will be determined during preconstruction TV inspection and cleaning.

The board did not set a detailed construction schedule at the meeting; staff said they would return with next steps on contracting and a prioritized list of streets after initial cleaning and TVing of lines.