The Dublin City Council recently approved its final payment to Whitewater Construction for the replacement of outdated clay sewer pipe in its continuing effort of improving the city infrastructure and bringing the sewer system up- to- date.
The work can be traced back to 2014 when Texas Commission of Environmental Quality cited the city for consistent violations related to the outdated and deteriorating pipe.
Dublin Public Works Director Cory James reported the infrastructure was in such disrepair that it was common for 30 to 40 manholes to overflow on a standard one inch rainfall. Conservative estimates placed 2.5 million gallons of water entering the sewage system on regular rainfall, well above the permitted amount and causing problems for the city’s lagoon treatment plant.
The city was able to enter into negotiations with TCEQ, who agreed to put a stop to more than $1 million in fines for proof of continued commitment to improving the city’s sewage problems.
Dublin was able to acquire severa l Community Development Block Grants that aided in multiple projects replacing portions of the 17.1 miles of sewer line in need of repair.
The 18-month phase just wrapping up replaced 3 miles of sewer lines, removed 40 brick manholes, replacing 30 outdated manholes and installing an additional 70. There were also 6,000 feet of lateral lines replaced.
The increased manholes mean more access points for the city and better management of the system.
This phase was funded through a $2.9 million Texas Water Development Board grant. James and the city hope that they can utilize some leftover funds in dong some line work on S. Patrick (after Elm and Henry) and possibly acquire equipment like a grit chamber and a sludge box for the wastewater treatment plant.
James said the number of calls and problems during rainfall has decreased drastically since the line replacement began and he is hoping he will see even more improvement during rainfall events after the new work.
Currently, there is still between 4,000 and 6,000 feet of clay pipe to be replaced.
James encourages anyone seeing water sinking into lines or broken cleanout caps to call City Hall at (254) 445-3331 as the inflow and infiltration can cause issues for the system.
Boxes in the map ( right) represent sewer lines replaced through funds made available in a Texas Water Development Board grant. (For perspective, the work in the central part of the map represents lines replace along Patrick Street.)