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Berea utilities outline sewer system stress, I&I hotspots and planned rehab projects
Summary
Kevin Howard, general manager of Berea Municipal Utilities, presented flow-monitoring results showing large inflow/infiltration spikes (including a ~1,200% spike at one manhole), reviewed plant capacity and energy impacts, and outlined capital projects and grants including Brushy Fork rehabilitation and a Hwy 595 pump-station upgrade.
Kevin Howard, general manager at Berea Municipal Utilities, gave a detailed briefing on the city’s wastewater system, describing components (JC Chambers Wastewater Treatment Plant, seven pump stations, leachate handling) and the collection system mapping used to identify inflow and infiltration (I&I) hotspots.
Using flow-monitoring data, Howard showed a manhole where flow rose from about 50 gallons per minute to roughly 600 gpm during a rain event (which he described as "a 1200% increase in a short amount of time"). At plant scale, he said base flow of roughly 2,700,000 gallons per day spiked to a peak (reported in the presentation as about 41,400,000 gallons per day), equivalent to a roughly 511% increase and requiring all standby pumps to run — increasing energy and treatment costs.
Howard described planned capital spending and ongoing maintenance: infrastructure R&M budget items (FY27 infrastructure R&M $125,000; equipment R&M $200,000), annual sewer-line replacement/rehab funding (about $200,000/year), a $75,000/year allowance for collection-system pump-station upgrades, and a multi-year leachate-discharge-to-collection plan budgeted at $1,500,000 over the next 4–5 years. He noted the Highway 595 pump-station upgrade and force-main replacement were out to bid with a bid opening scheduled, and that Brushy Fork rehabilitation work is targeted after flow pinpointing in the Mount Vernon Road/Slate Lake area.
Howard said the Brushy Fork project has grant funding of $588,000 and the Highway 595 project $958,000; he said those grants reduce long-term costs borne by ratepayers. In discussing possible connections to the airport force main, Howard said the line is in service and one connection has been allowed but recommended grinders and backflow prevention be required.
Council members asked technical questions about rehabilitation methods (lining vs. replacement), historical separation of storm and sanitary systems, and likely monitoring outcomes after repairs. Howard said lining can reduce inside diameter and must be weighed against full replacement for capacity and longevity.
