SID News

Post date: Mar 01, 2009 2:47:23 AM

J. Lake SID total much less than first estimate

By HARRY G. PERKINS , Hub Regional Correspondent, 02/25/2009, Kearney HUB on line at http://www.kearneyhub.com

JOHNSON LAKE — The collection system for the Johnson Lake sewer system should cost at least $500,000

less than anticipated. Engineer Jim Olmsted said the system, which collects and transports sewage to the

treatment lagoons, is expected to be $523,181 less than the original estimate, and it will not be necessary

to construct a third treatment cell at this time, which will save the sewer district an additional $1 million.

The savings are slightly more than 5 percent of the estimated construction cost of $10.28 million.

Engineers also told the Johnson Lake Sewer Improvement District trustees that a solution was found to the leak

in Cell No. 1. The cell began leaking shortly after its construction in 2007. If the cell were to become useless,

immediate construction of a third cell would be necessary.

For several months, chemical tests of water and soil revealed the leak was treatable with the use of additional

clay, engineers said. Clay was found on property the sewer district already owned.

In the meantime, sewage from the system has been delivered to Cell No. 2.

The leak came as a surprise because initial tests were satisfactory to the engineers and the Department of Environmental Quality.

The problem stemmed from inconsistent soil composition. The soil was found to be a swirling mixture of clay

and sand.

Olmsted said Van Kirk Brothers would soon have equipment in place. As soon as the frost leaves the ground,

the new clay will be excavated and placed in the cell. He said it would be fixed at no added cost to the district.

Olmsted said repairs should be completed by May 1, when the heavy seasonal use of the sewer system will begin.

Finding a solution to the Cell No. 1 problem should delay the need for a third cell for as much as seven years.