City officials in West Burlington, Iowa say a major piece of sewer infrastructure is nearing a critical point and needs replacement.
The Hawk Eye reports the city’s 24-inch force main — a 2.1-mile pipeline that carries about 60 percent of the community’s sewage to the wastewater treatment plant — was built in 1984 and is now at the end of its useful life.
City Administrator Gregg Mandsager says maintaining the line is especially challenging because, as a force main, it cannot be shut down for extended repairs. He also noted the line has only two working air release valves, far fewer than typically required.
The line serves not only the city’s roughly 3,200 residents, but also major institutions and businesses, including Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center, Southeastern Community College, and retailers like Target and Walmart.
For the third year, the city is seeking $3 million in federal Community Project Funding through an application with Mariannette Miller-Meeks.
Officials say projects of this scale are difficult for a city of West Burlington’s size, especially as it continues paying off debt from previous infrastructure work.
