Sartell Considers Backup Pipe After Last Months Sewage Pipe Break

SARTELL -- After a broken sewage pipe caused headaches for drivers and residents last month, Sartell officials are weighing in on a backup plan.

During tonight's (Monday) city council meeting, staff recommended the city add a backup pipe to the Main Lift Station near Heim Bridge along County Road 1.

City Engineer Mike Nielson says the proposed plan would use an unused forcemain pipe, next to the main pipe, as a backup in the event of another break.

Last month, the main lift station forcemain, which pumps about 1.5 million gallons of sewage per day, broke flooding the road and leaking into the Mississippi River. Repair cost on the sewage pipe is also expected to exceed $75,000.

The unused pipe has been dormant since it broke about 5 years ago. Nielson says if the main pipe breaks again, the sewage could loop around the break with a redundant pipe, reducing the cost of repair.

After further discussion the council voted to approve staff to go out and collect bid, not exceeding $90,000, to repair the pipe and make the forcemain connection necessary to provide a backup pipe.