Thursday, April 1, 2010

Did city sewer department really approve a manhole to be under water after rainstorms?

Please click on image to ENLARGE view of manhole with fill dirt surrounding it to create a pool of water that would go into the sanitary sewer system if the cover were removed during or after rain.

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3 comments:

Anonymous said...

When sewer lines are constructed, the City is required to restore the ground to original contours as much as practicable. Consequently,it is not unusual to have areas where stormwater flows inundate manhole covers. In some cases, the covers are bolted down and sealed tight. Even where they are not bolted down, under the manhole cover is a bowl shaped component that will prevent the slightest drip from going into the sewers. Your City of Fayetteville has a VERY well developed program to prevent stormwater infiltration and inflow from getting into the sewers and increasing the volume of wastewater that has to be treated.

April 2, 2010 at 6:20 AM
aubunique said...

This manhole is surrounded by several feet of fill dirt. The dirt in the spot was dark, absorbent prairie soil and the same elevation as World Peace Wetland Prairie 60 feet or less to the south of this spot until 2005 when the fill was brought in. The city didn't do this work. It was done by the contractors for Aspen Ridge and then much of it was changed and redone by the Hill Place contractors. This manhole would be well above ground if it had been restored to predevelopment elevation.

April 4, 2010 at 10:33 AM
aubunique said...

The "bowl" is in place on this one or the water would no longer be standing above. I know that. The problem is having replaced the hydric soil to begin with.
If the Hill Place park land had been gently returned to its previous state, then it would be allowing the water to the infiltrate rather than runoff or stand longer than natural and be a threat to the sanitary sewage system.

During the time from July 2006 when Aspen Ridge work ended and Hill Place began work in 2008 many of the storm drains in place were left incomplete and mud poured through them. Apparently, that was happening to the sewers too.
The city really doesn't have a budget for fixing the mistakes of failed developers. The solution was to approve a new project for the first builder who stepped up with a plan.

April 4, 2010 at 10:41 AM

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