First phase targets areas with repetitive pipeline breaks
HEIGHTS – Work has begun to replace sections of water main pipeline in select areas of the city.
The work represents the first of two phases taking place, with Phase 1 being funded through Michigan’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. The areas impacted and anticipated timeframes in this phase are:
• Berwyn Street: Hass Street to Warren Avenue (Feb. 3 to March 10).
• Jackson Street: Van Born to Annapolis (April 21 to May 26).
• Pennie Street: Telegraph Road to Gulley Road (June 2 to July 21).
• Gulley Road: Dartmouth Street to Princeton Street (July 28 to Sept. 15).
• Warren Avenue: Telegraph to Riverside Drive (Sept. 22 to Oct. 20).
These five areas are part of the oldest, most vulnerable lines that have exhibited the most frequent performance issues and breakages in the past.
The city is employing the “pipe bursting” technique wherever possible, City Engineer Ali Dib said. With this process, the original metal pipeline remains in place, and a “replacement” pipe made of high-density propylene plastic is inserted as a permanent liner in the old pipe.
The process greatly reduces the cost and disruption of the traditional replacement method of digging up the entire pipline, laying new pipeline, then burying it the entire length of the replacement. The process has been used successfully in the city in the past, but not to the extent it will be employed in this project.
“We are going to use this process wherever we can” Dib said. “In the areas we will use it, residents will see a significant reduction in the daily disruption due to the digging that will take place. Not only is it a more cost effective process compared to the old “dig and replace” method, but residents will enjoy not having their yards dug up nearly as drastically.”
Although Dib is confident the bursting process will be used in many of the replacement areas — and wherever possible — there will still be some sections where the traditional “dig and replace” method will still need to be used.
The second phase of the pipline project which will include replacing more water lines, is in the design phase. This part of the project will be funded through the city’s American Rescue Plan Act funds, as approved by the City Council in December.
In total, the city’s water main replacement initiative this project will replace about five miles of the oldest, most vulnerable water distribution lines to ensure more reliable and cost effective system for our residents for years to come.
“I am delighted we are finally able to get the widespread replacement of our water mains up and running” Mayor Bill Bazzi said. “We are seeing more and more water line breaks throughout the city, which caused huge disruptions to our residents and businesses, and costs us millions of dollars in repair costs annually.”
Due to the lack of funding, most of the city’s water main repairs have amounted to “band aid fixes,” including patches over the actual leaks as opposed to actually replacing the “ancient” lines – many of which have been in place and in use for more than 50 years, Bazzi said.
“We have had many instances where a main would rupture, our workers would dig up the area, patch it and re-cover it, only to have another rupture take place just a few yards from the first repair, requiring a repeat of the same process”. Dib said. “It is going to be a great benefit for everyone to finally have an up-to-date water transmission system in place.”
A detailed map and regular updates will be available to residents and business owners on the city website, www.dearbornheightsmi.gov.