Proactive Sewer Replacement Project Underneath Lake Decatur Underway
DECATUR (August 19, 2024)— A project to replace an aging section of force main sewer on the east side of Lake Decatur is now underway. The project, awarded to Burdick Plumbing and Heating of Decatur, will replace a 10” cast iron pipe force main, built in the 1950’s, with an expanded 14” PVC force main that will allow for redundancy and additional conveyance capacity from the southeast side of Decatur and Mt Zion.
Oak Ridge Drive at Lost Bridge Road will be closed for the project’s duration, which is expected to last 45 days, weather permitting.
This new larger force main is part of 28 miles of force main maintained by SDD and will provide additional capacity and help prevent sewer overflows, especially during high-flow conditions such as significant rain events reducing the likelihood of a sewer backup in Lake Decatur.
The new 1000 ft section of force main will be installed by horizontal directional drilling equipment under Lake Decatur extending from the Lost Bridge Lift Station to an existing force main near the Decatur Park District’s Commodores Yacht Club.
The $2.9 million project will be funded using the District’s Renewal Fund and will not result in any additional costs to residents through taxes or fees.
The drilling equipment will be on the west side of the lake and the pipe pulling equipment will be near the lift station. The contractor plans to use noise reduction measures but more noise than normal should be expected. Here is a link to a video that explains the drilling process. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfMAmgpEKhg
About the Sanitary District of Decatur
The Sanitary District of Decatur is the regional wastewater treatment authority for central Macon County providing wastewater treatment services to more than 80,000 residents of Decatur, Forsyth, Mt. Zion, Argenta, Oreana, and for industrial and commercial users in the Decatur metropolitan area.
SDD Contact
Kevin Johnson, Project Manger
217-859-4318