The Saraland Water and Sewer System (SAWSS) is committed to improving the operation efficiency and condition of its water and sewer infrastructure in order to maintain affordable rates while minimizing impact to the natural environment.
In 2016, the Saraland Water and Sewer Board applied for and received grant funding from Mobile County through it’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program to install Cured-In-Place-Pipe on Elm, Cypress and Juniper Street. This project installed innovative trenchless technology called Cured in Place Pipe (CIPP) to address inflow and infiltration in aged sewer lines and manholes. Installation of CIPP is very minimally invasive to the natural environment. All work takes place in previously disturbed areas and construction activities take place within existing sanitary sewer trunk line. This project reduced inflow and infiltration through the installation of a new “pipe within a pipe” resulting in reduced collection and treatment costs. This project cleaned the lines, installed 2,400 linear feet of CIPP technology, rehabbed 19 service connection and 10 manholes. The project was competitively bid out and the low bidder was Suncoast Infrastructure, Inc. The total contract price was $154,380 plus engineering design and inspection fees. Mobile County CDBG provided $145,500.
Groundwater entering sanitary sewer lines through defective pipe joints and broken pipes is called infiltration. The volume of leakage increases over time due to damage caused by tree roots, faulty installation, and aged materials. Damaged and broken sewer cleanouts are a major cause of infiltration in Saraland. Further, infiltration occurs where groundwater elevation is higher than the gravity sewer line. Water entering sanitary sewers from inappropriate connections is called inflow. Typical sources include compromised manholes, roof drains, and alteration of natural drainage from filling lots for construction. In some areas in Saraland – storm drains have been found to be connected directly to the sewer gravity lines. Inflow tends to peak during precipitation events, and causes greater flow variation than infiltration.