Wastewater Collection System Maintenance

Wastewater Collection System Maintenance

The wastewater collection system conveys used water from residential and commercial sources to the Moccasin Bend Wastewater Treatment Plant.  The collection system consists of gravity flow sewer lines, pressurized force mains, manholes and pumping facilities.  The collection system infrastructure is by far the most expensive component of the City's environmental protection system. Constant maintenance of the collection system is necessary to ensure proper operation. Collection system maintenance personnel excavate and repair existing lines, construct new lines, clean lines and use television cameras to inspect lines daily. The wastewater system contains approximately 1,263 miles of sewer lines ranging in size from 6 inches to 84 inches in diameter, and 26,000 manholes.

The wastewater collection system is comprised of the following divisions:   Engineering, Sewer Maintenance, and Inflow & Infiltration (I&I).

The emphasis of the engineering section is to provide engineering and logistical support to the I & I and Sewer Maintenance program.  This activity is responsible for contract evaluation and administration of sewer performance, maintenance, and rehabilitation contracts.  The engineers also are responsible for sewer collection system policy enforcement.

The Sewer Maintenance section is primarily responsible for the proper operation of the system's collector lines and interceptors excluding the operation of the pump stations.  The crews clean, repair, and replace smaller diameter sewer lines on a preventative as well as an emergency basis.

The Inflow & Infiltration section is responsible for the inspection, cleaning and sealing of sewer lines.  The elimination of excessive inflow and infiltration into the sewer system allows the freed up line capacity to be used by additional revenue generating customers.  A tight sewer system also reduces the need to construct additional interceptors, pump stations or plant capacity.