City contractor begins sewer inspections Monday

Historic City News readers are advised that beginning on Monday March 11, sanitary sewers in the Abbott Tract area will start to undergo a rigorous inspection of the interior of nearly two miles of pipes, a necessary first step in essential ongoing maintenance and repair of sanitary sewers.

The work is being performed by Underground Pipeline Rehabilitation, Inc. under contract with the city and is expected to last approximately one week.

During the inspections, minimal street closures are anticipated and residents will continue to have access to their properties.

The affected streets are Abbott Street, Pine Street, Locust Street, Mulberry Street, Joiner Street, Shenandoah Street, Osceola Street, Water Street, and the east side of San Marco Avenue and South Castillo Drive between Shenandoah Street and Ocean Avenue.

If residents or businesses in the area experience sewer odors or service problems while the work is underway, or have any questions, that may contact Wastewater Collections supervisor John Ruddell, in the Public Works department by calling 904.825.1043 x25.

“This project includes inspecting and cleaning sewers in the Abbott Tract neighborhood,” said Paul Williamson, Public Affairs Director for the City of St Augustine. “The final goal is the elimination of rainwater inflow and groundwater infiltration that overtax the wastewater treatment plant.”

Step one is cleaning sediments and grease in order for television cameras to be introduced into the pipes to video record their condition. The next step is to line the pipes with a chemical-treated poly product that seals all the cracks and voids; substantially extending the life of the pipe.

The expensive alternative would have been to cut open the roadway and replace the sewer pipes and would have been at a much greater cost.