Crews preparing to install a new sewer lining on River Street in Prince Albert. (Glenn Hicks/paNOW Staff)

By Ronald Quaroni

Quick Fix

Sewer relining saves city time and money

Jun 28, 2019 | 2:00 PM

What once took a month or months can now be done in days.

The city of Prince Albert has been shoring up sewer lines in a few different areas of the city this week including Second Avenue West and River Street.

Construction has closed off the east bound lane of River Street in Prince Albert. (submitted photo/ City of P.A website)

Although it’s more expensive upfront, approximately $50,000 per block, the city’s implementation of sewer relining technology saves public resources.

“It could have easily have taken a month to rebuild these sewer mains, or maybe even two months,” Prince Albert’s Director or Public Works. Wes Hicks said. He explained digging up a road for sewer repair is an arduous process and costly in the long run.

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With the implementation of ‘sewer relining,’ the city saves time and money.

“You put in the new liner, which they pull through the sewer from manhole to manhole, block to block. They then use steam and air to blow up the liner and cure it. It takes several hours to cure; it hardens in place. Then they send a robotic cutter down the sewer main and cut out the openings to the service connections in the next street,” Hicks said. “Basically you’re getting a new pipe but it only takes a couple of days to do this, because you’re not digging up the street.”

Hicks said although it would be nice, relining is not an option on all sewer repair projects.

“Not all sewer mains can be relined. If they’ve already deteriorated to the point where they are no longer round, and the tops have fallen or cracked, they still have to be excavated,” Hicks told paNOW.

The city will reline the sewers on five city blocks this construction season.

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Ron.quaroni@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @RonaldQuaroni