Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
THE FOURTH phase of the city of Ironwood's sewer-water project includes digging ditches to lay pipe along Ayer Street on Tuesday afternoon. On Monday, the city commission accepted a report detailing possible infrastructure projects through 2035.
By RALPH ANSAMI
Ironwood - The Ironwood City Commission officially closed out a project on Monday that recommends $19 million in sewer-water improvements over the next 20 years.
Ironwood received $970,912 in funding through the Michigan SAW grant program in October of 2014 to develop an asset management plan for the wastewater and stormwater sewer systems.
The project will benefit the city for many years to come.
In approving a certificate of completion for the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Stormwater, Asset Management and Wastewater project, commissioners authorized city manager Scott Erickson to sign all necessary documents.
"This is the final step of a two-year program," Erickson said.
City residents will most identify the project with the smoke testing that resulted throughout the city.
"This will give us guidance for the next 20 years or more," Erickson said, referring to improvements that will be made to the sanitary-stormwater system.
"This is an amazing piece of research," city commissioner Rick Semo said.
The city is currently in the fourth phase of infrastructure improvements, this time in the Sutherland-Ayer Streets area.
A need for six water-sewer capital improvement projects was identified during the project. The report notes the projects would continue to be funded through U.S. Department of Agriculture-Rural Development grants and loans.
The feasibility of each project will be determined by the level of funding through grants, in conjunction with likely sewer rate increases, the report said.
A funding projection worksheet was developed to address repairs and maintenance as part of the project.
The project schedule for phases five through 10, as recommended by the DEQ, includes:
-2020: $3 million.
-2023: $2 million.
-2026: $3.3 million.
-2029: $3.6 million.
-2032: $3,750,000.
-2035: $3.2 million.
The intent of asset management is to ensure long-term sustainability of a city's sewer system.
Collection system assets were GPS-located in the field and locations were inserted on an aerial map, including specific information that can be updated by the city.
The condition of sewer pipes was determined by both televising and smoke testing. The condition of sewer pipes averaged a score of 2.8, based on a 1 to 5 scale.
The condition of stormwater gravity pipe averaged 2.4, indicating "minor deterioration within the collection system," according to the report.
The rating of sanitary sewer force mains was 2, indicating minor deterioration.
Based on pipe material and soil conditions, the life expectancy of the ductile iron force main was estimated to be at least 80 years due, in part, to relatively recent upgrades. A rating of 2 was made for the entire force main pipe system installed from 1994 to 2004.
The rating for sanitary sewer manholes was 2.7, indicating minor to moderate deterioration.
Storm sewer structures averaged a rating of 2.4, indicating minor deterioration.
The rating of the Bonnie Road lift station assets was 2.1, indicating minor deterioration.
The city has 50.75 miles of sanitary sewer gravity pipe and 995 manholes.
The storm sewer pipe covers 25 miles, with 393 manholes.
A total of 21 manholes are in need of immediate repair.
The entire document is available for review at city offices.
