Lebanon Utilities advances lift station project to eliminate exposed creek sewer main

Lebanon Utilities advances lift station project to eliminate exposed creek sewer mainThe Indiana utility has approved a land purchase to reroute a vulnerable sewer line currently causing debris buildup in Prairie Creek, while simultaneously reporting major treatment savings from recent wet well rehabilitations.

The Utility Service Board approved the $27,500 purchase of a residential property to host a future lift station.

The new infrastructure will allow the utility to bury an exposed sewer line that acts as a debris-catching dam in Prairie Creek.

The project sits in the utility's top five draft hazard rankings due to the environmental risk of a main break in the waterway.

Separately, recent wet well rehabilitations have reduced inflow and infiltration by 26 million gallons annually, saving $133,000 in treatment costs.

Lebanon Utilities is moving forward with plans to resolve a high-risk exposed sewer main following the Utility Service Board's approval of a property purchase on May 20. The board unanimously authorized General Manager Ed Baskill to execute a $27,500 purchase agreement for a property at 407 Fordyce, which will serve as the site for a new lift station. The land acquisition addresses a critical vulnerability in the utility's collection system. According to a staff presentation, an existing sewer line currently spans Prairie Creek, creating a barrier that accumulates debris and requires annual clearing by the county. The only viable engineering solution to remove the pipe from the creek's flow line is to bury it beneath the waterway, a project that necessitates a new lift station in the immediate vicinity. The project is being prioritized due to its environmental risks. A staff member noted that the project currently sits in the top five of the utility's draft hazard rankings, driven by the severe consequence of a potential sewer main failure directly inside a stream. The county has expressed full support for removing the infrastructure from the waterway. The property acquisition will be funded through the utility's collection system repairs and upgrades budget, which retains a balance of several hundred thousand dollars from its initial $300,000 allocation. The utility plans to issue a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the demolition and environmental assessment of the existing vacant house on the site. Construction of the lift station itself will be scheduled during the upcoming update to the utility's five-year capital improvement plan. In other collection system news, the board received an update on significant inflow and infiltration (I&I) reductions resulting from recent wet well rehabilitations. Data from the collections department showed that repairs at the Upland Countryside lift station reduced pumped volume by over 22 million gallons annually, generating $112,000 in yearly wastewater treatment savings. A similar rehabilitation at Shaker Square reduced flows by 4 million gallons, saving an additional $21,000 annually. Staff highlighted that the six-figure annual savings provide an immediate return on investment for the rehabilitation work, alongside reduced operational wear and overtime costs.