Improvements to Fulton's sewers will continue following the renewal of a contract between the city and Visu-Sewer.
Fulton City Council voted unanimously to approve the renewal during Tuesday evening's meeting. After the approval of the initial $500,000 contract in late 2019 - of which $440,000 was spent in 2020 - Visu-Sewer repaired or relined about 3 miles of sewer pipes within the leakiest portion of the city's system, southeast of downtown.
Next up is the area south of Fulton Middle School loosely bounded by East 10th, State, Second and Nichols streets. Repairs will take place in that area this year, and Visu-Sewer will scope out another high-priority area for potential repairs in 2022.
The city plans to pay $338,000 to Visu-Sewer for scoping and 14,400 feet of sewer lining and a further $100,000 for 26 point-repairs. Fulton's 2021 budget includes $800,000 set aside for inflow and infiltration remediation.
Interim city engineer Kyle Bruemmer said the repairs are necessitated by a memorandum of understanding between Fulton and Missouri's Department of Natural Resources. The city has issues with stormwater infiltration of the pipes and sewage leaks and backups.
"We need to tighten it up, is what it comes down to," Bruemmer said.
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The city's stormwater processing facility has a capacity of 8 million gallons per day. On a dry day, it typically sees 1.5-2 million gallons. However, after a rain, that volume may swell up to 12 million.
An assessment by contractor Burns and McDonnell aided the city in mapping out which areas of town have the most sewer issues. Visu-Sewer is tasked with scoping out those hotspots and determining the source of the issues.
That could be anything from a tree root jamming up the pipe, to major cracks, a faulty service connection with a homeowner's system. The Visu-Sewer bid includes pricing for fixing pretty much any conceivable issue.
Areas that are cracked but not completely structurally compromised will receive new linings. Bruemmer said vendors of the lining material claim it will last 50 years.
Fulton Director of Administration Bill Johnson asked if the sewer plant has seen notable reduction in stormwater infiltration since Visu-Sewer began its work.
"We're going to authorize a million dollars over two years; I think we need to know how well we are doing," Ballard Simmons, Ward 1 council member, said.
Bruemmer said the city is collecting data on that right now.
"I can give you a lot better answer if you give me a little more time," he said.
Johnson noted the city has received significantly fewer complaints from residents about sewage backups in the last 12 months compared to in previous years.
"I want to keep sewer out of basements," he said.
Even after the completion of repairs in this section, four other zones identified as particularly high priority will remain.
Ward 2 City Council member Jeff Stone said when this project was first presented to the council, he didn't realize it would be a multiple-year undertaking.
"I don't remember this being the scope of work presented to us," he said.
In 2019, the project was pitched as a way to use an excess $800,000 originally budgeted towards revamping the Route O lift station. The city expected to spend $300,000 on reducing rainwater inflow and infiltration, plus an additional $700,000 on addressing other problem areas in the sewer, Johnson said in August of that year.
But Tuesday, Johnson said he expects Bruemmer will return in 2022 to request the authorization of further money as the city works its way down the list of problem areas. Fulton may renew its contract with Visu-Sewer for up to three additional years beyond 2021.
"It's a never-ending thing," Fulton mayor Lowe Cannell said of sewer maintenance.
Stone also requested the city address complaints from residents about Visu-Sewer vehicles obstructing roads and driveways.
"We need to be diligent," he said.