Multiple water projects on tap for Cleveland Utilities

Crews move earth along Wesdell Lane as part of a Cleveland Utilities waterline replacement project.
Crews move earth along Wesdell Lane as part of a Cleveland Utilities waterline replacement project.
photo Crews move earth along Wesdell Lane as part of a Cleveland Utilities waterline replacement project.

CLEVELAND, Tenn. -- Cleveland Utilities is moving forward with a number of water and sewer line replacement and rehabilitation projects.

In a recent meeting, Craig Mullinax, vice president of the water division, announced a water line replacement project on McDonald School Road would begin soon.

That project follows the completion of a similar project that encompassed sections of water line on Park Avenue, Steed Street and Wesdell Lane, totaling 3,470 feet of line, he said.

Work on Wesdell Lane, which amounts to nearly half of the line being replaced on the project, is currently underway, said Mullinax. Replacement of water lines on Park Avenue and Steed Street have already been completed.

"With [these projects] we are replacing some of the old galvanized lines," said Ken Webb, president and CEO of Cleveland Utilities.

It will cost $300,000 to install the new lines for the two projects.

In other business, Cleveland Utilities is about to launch rehabilitation work on the wastewater network in the area of Wildwood Avenue and Inman Street.

"That is an area we had one major overflow and hopefully we'll be able to take care of that with this work," Mullinax said.

The Wildwood Avenue and Inman Street project is part of a comprehensive environmental program that began three years ago and is intended to reduce sewage overflows by repairing and replacing the worst cases of stormwater infiltration into the wastewater network.

Wastewater rehabilitation efforts conducted in the southern and western sections of the city have included repairing damaged sites as well as lining some manholes and lengths of pipe with resin-soaked fleece sleeves, said Greg Clark, who supervises the wastewater rehabilitation program, in a presentation to utility board members.

Once cured, the sleeves serve as a new pipe within the old damaged pipe, eliminating the need - and high cost - of excavating old pipe and replacing destroyed pavement, Clark said.

More than 40,000 feet of wastewater pipe and 83 manholes have been lined since August 2014, said Mullinax. Another 38 manholes have been repaired or replaced.

Closed-circuit television cameras and non-toxic smoke and water flow monitors are all used to determine stormwater infiltration sites, Clark said.

Work is also proceeding with Cleveland Utilities' efforts to convert 30,000 manual water meters with wireless "smart meters."

More than 3,600 meters - essentially 18 meter-reading routes - were converted in a six-week period ending June 30, said Mullinax.

"With all the complexity in the project, there are things we are working through," said Mullinax. "Overall, things are going pretty well."

Three consultant crews are currently working on the project.

Another 1,300 meters were converted through an internal water division pilot program as of December 2014, utility officials said.

Paul Leach is based in Cleveland. Email him at paul.leach.press@gmail.com.

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