SUD Looks at Abbo’s Alley, Rainfall Issues

by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

The chronic overflow problem at Abbo’s Alley is due to tree roots growing into broken sections of the old clay pipe sewer line, said SUD manager Ben Beavers at the Feb. 23 meeting of the Board of Commissioners of the Sewanee Utility District of Franklin and Marion Counties. The most recent incident occurred on Feb. 13. 

Beavers said SUD responded immediately and had the line cleared in two days. The board discussed long-term solutions and the timeline for making long-term repairs to the aging section of sewer.

“SUD used to get by with clearing the Abbo’s Alley line once a year,” Beavers said. “Now we have to do it every six months.” 

Beavers proposed two possible solutions. One would be to dig up the old line and replace it, which would result in a significant loss of trees. The other option would be to burst the pipe and pull a new pipe through the channel created in the process. Pipe bursting would require removal of fewer trees. Beavers will consult with the University about which method to use. 

“It’s too wet right now to replace the pipe by either method,” Beavers said. Also, since the sewer line serves the Fowler Center, he anticipates the job would not be done until after graduation, when fewer students are on campus.

Repairs continue in the Alto Road/Roarks Cove Road basin, where rainwater flowing into broken sections of the old clay pipe sewer line is causing overflows. SUD has 400–500 feet of line yet to replace.

In discussing operations, Beavers said Lake Jackson is overflowing, and Lake O’Donnell is “full to the brim.” Due to the recent heavy rainfall, the leak in Lake Jackson has increased to 14 gallons per minute, twice the usual rate. Beavers speculated much of the flow measured is groundwater rather than water actually leaking from the lake. 

“The flow is clear,” Beavers said. “There’s no indication the dam is eroding.”

On the supply side, SUD experienced a 10 percent increase in unaccounted-for water loss in January. Unaccounted-for water is the difference between water produced at the plant and water registered as passing through customer meters, meaning SUD doesn’t get paid for the water. SUD is searching for leaks in the water supply line, but hasn’t yet found the source of the water loss. Beavers will investigate metering problems at the water plant as a possible cause.

Inspection of the water tanks revealed the tank at St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School wasn’t filling to capacity due to a faulty altitude valve. SUD will replace the valve with a straight pipe to remedy the problem. Beavers speculated water pressure in the Midway community could increase once the problem is addressed.

Plans still call for installing a pressure boosting station in Midway when the weather improves.

Art Hanson was sworn in to serve another four-year term as a SUD commissioner. The board meets next on March 22.