On Oct. 15, City of Columbia Sewer Utility held a public meeting at City Hall to discuss their plans for a proposed $9.2 million sewer rehabilitation plan for sewers in Central and West Columbia.

Currently, sewers are made of clay and are starting to become weaker and crack. The proposed plan will be non-invasive and will be used to strengthen approximately 120,000 feet of sewer mains. 

The plan includes a fiberglass and flexible resin that will be inserted into the pipe. They then use steam to heat up and mold the material to the insides of the pipe to strengthen it.

This development will affect areas in downtown and drainage basins of Flat Branch, Meredith Branch and County House Branch.

“We did a stormwater and wastewater integrated management plan back in 2018 and this was kind of a focal point,” said Matt Nestor, Public Information Specialist for the City of Columbia Utilities.

Nestor said that the sewer system impacts more than just the Columbia residents.

After the sewage water is treated, the remainder of the treated sewage water will end up near Eagle Bluffs Conservation and McBaine Bottoms. This becomes a natural habitat for birds, such as Eagles.

“It goes to the wastewater treatment plant and then we treat it, disinfect it, all that stuff, and then the effluent we send gets pumped down to the wetlands down near McBaine Bottoms. So it turns that into a natural habitat for the birds,” Nestor said.

The City Council will vote on this proposal at their meeting on Dec. 2. If approved, this project will move forward by late February and the cost will be paid by utility funds.

If approved, this project will be about a year long. The public will not be affected.

Edited by Annie Goodykoontz | agoodykoontz@themaneater.com