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Colchester Faces Expensive Sewer Repairs

Colchester will have to make repairs to sanitary sewer lines in the southwest part of the city and repairs at storage lagoons to make sure it meets IEPA regulations.

Leaky sewer lines allow an influx of storm water and ground water into the sewer system. The extra water and waste overloads the system.

Engineer John Calise, of Benton and Associates, said, “Not only do we have some problems locally with basement back ups and some of the transportation of the wastewater out to the lagoons. But the lagoons themselves are also overloaded with regards to too much wastewater.”

He said the sewer repairs will involve a combination of re-lining and replacing lines. His estimates the sewer repairs will cost between $1.5 million and $2.5 million.

He said the lagoons will require at least $600,000 dollars in repairs. The extra waste intermittently causes the lagoons to exceed IEPA standards for solids.

The repairs to the sewer lines and lagoons will take at least two years to complete.

Calise said the city should qualify for a combination of construction grants from the USDA  and low-interest loans through the IEPA.