 Many residents found themselves bailing flooded basements at the end
of the first week of January. Inherently a wet and cold task, it was
particularly unpleasant as a mid-winter event.Wastewater
treatment plant manager Dave Kitzmiller explained the cause. Six of
the 11 lift stations that aid in getting wastewater to the sewer
plant in Lincoln were overwhelmed. It took two days before all six
lift stations caught up.
Kitzmiller said that 20 basements were reported flooded by storm
sewer backups.
He said that the wastewater treatment plant normally processes 3
1/2 million gallons a day. During this event it jumped to over 7
million gallons a day for several days.
Just over a week ago, on Feb. 4, another heavy rain fell, and
that rain fell over the 10.5-inch snow that had blanketed the area
just four days earlier.
The result was similar to the 5-inch rain we had last month,
Kitzmiller said. The good news, he added: "I did not get any
basement backup calls."
Melting snow and ice flooded streets and streams. But, the storm
sewers were not as affected this time, he said.
Again, six lift stations could not keep up. Five of the stations
returned to non-emergency levels by Feb. 6.
The south lift station, located on Salt Creek, flooded up around
the bypass, and the station was pumping creek water as well as sewer
for a time, Kitzmiller said. All stations are now returned to
normal.
The collapse of a storm sewer on Route 121 as you head south,
near Precision Products, had nothing to do with the recent weather.
It was found that a water line that was drilled through the storm
sewer years ago had leaked, slowly causing the deterioration. The
water company is taking responsibility for it.
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Petersburg Plumbing has been assisting with the assessment of the
needs and costs for those repairs. Because it is an urgent situation
it will not be bid out.
Also, because it is on a state route, the state has the
permitting process on the fast track. The work could get done as
early as next week, Kitzmiller said.
Two other roads have issues. Barricades are up on 21st Street.
The water flow has been too high to scope it to see if it is a sewer
or street problem, Kitzmiller said.
More barricades are up at 15th Street, where it is a sewer
problem that has been identified.
Kitzmiller said during a break from the meeting that there is a
big presentation planned later this year that explains a lot about
how the whole system works. The information that would be presented
would benefit the public to know.
It was mentioned that Aldermen Marty Neitzel and Kathy Horn were
part of a group that recently toured the wastewater treatment plant.
Neitzel said, "I wanted to see how it goes from this point to
that point. I was impressed with the process."
Alderman Buzz Busby said he's toured the place many times before.
"I can understand why you were impressed. The first time I saw it, I
was (impressed) with the cleanliness of it."
Neitzel chimed back, "Above all."
Busby, "Right! And it wasn't done just for your visit either."
Horn cheerfully added, "I've never seen someplace run by so many
men be so clean and organized."
"I think I take that as a compliment," Busby laughed.
[By JAN YOUNGQUIST] |
