Heavy rainfall this morning is causing a bit of a schedule adjustment as work continues to shore up a sanitary sewer line that failed earlier this week in far south Emporia.
Assistant City Manager Lane Massey says the contractor will be onsite near the South Arundel cul-de-sac around noon. The goal is to have a temporary fix in place by the end of the day, although that depends on whether we see additional thunderstorm activity. More permanent repairs, including a re-sculpting and installation of riprap on both banks, may take place by the end of next week — again, if the weather cooperates.
The 36-inch line crosses a stream that feeds into the Cottonwood River. Officials on site believe it was already compromised before failing Wednesday when the north streambank washed away several feet from the anchor point.
That failure prompted the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to issue a stream advisory for the Cottonwood at Emporia and connecting tributaries for the increased risk of bacteria and other contaminants. That advisory is in place until further notice. Residents and pets should not go into the creek until it’s deemed safe.
Stay with KVOE and KVOE.com for updates.
8 am Friday: Officials now target Friday for temporary fix to broken sanitary sewer line in south Emporia
It now appears a temporary solution to a broken sanitary sewer pipe in south Emporia may be installed at some time Friday.
A 36-inch pipe crossing a small creek south of the South Arundel cul-de-sac failed Wednesday. Originally, there was some thought a temporary fix would be finished Thursday. However, efforts to clear brush and trees took most of Thursday to complete, and a replacement pipe is coming to Emporia from elsewhere.
The current thought is recent flooding caused the pipe failure in two separate ways. Officials with BG Consultants believe the pipe may have already been compromised before flooding began in early May and lasted for most of the month. However, the flooding then washed the north streambank several feet away from the pipe’s anchor point, causing the pipe to fail completely and send raw sewage into the creek.
Assistant City Manager Lane Massey says city crews are re-routing the sewage flow to nearby pipes to limit any additional sewage going into the creek. Contract crews will also reshape both banks near the failure site and install riprap to minimize any additional washout risk, but that work could take anywhere from one to four weeks to complete.
A stream advisory for the risk of increased bacteria and other contaminants continues until further notice. for the Cottonwood River at Emporia and nearby tributaries.
Click here for KVOE News’ news coverage Thursday, including photos and videos.
