Lower Union Park Sewer Separation Project
In the older parts of Des Moines, it was standard to have one big pipe for both sanitary and storm sewers.
The combined effluent all dumped into the river.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), this lack of
separation causes a variety of
public health problems. Previously completed public works projects
now route the combined sewers' effluent to the water treatment plant
where it is treated before release into the river.
 Treating
storm water is expensive. The City of Des Moines is working to separate combined
sewers so that yard and basement floor drain effluent do not enter the sanitary sewer.
In the
May 2010 UPNA newsletter, the latest phase of the sewer separation projects was announced,
called the Lower Union Park Sewer Separation Project. The project takes in parts of Capitol
Park, Highland Park and Union Park neighborhoods.
This project will take the extra load from the water treatment plant, prevent ponding in the streets and relive back-ups in basements during extremely heavy rains. It was noted that the downtown area still needs to have this separation work done sometime in the future.
To reduce the combined sewer flow to the treatment
plan the City of Des Moines also provides a subsidy to property owners
to fix their combined sewer connections. Applications and details of the
Private Property Protection Program are available online.
The Upper Union Park Sewer Separation Project cost about $8.5 million to complete.
The Lower Union Park phase will cost about $5.4 million, which is covered by grant money. It is expected to take two years
to complete all the work in this projects.
Work started in 2010 must be completed in time to insure the streets, driveway approaches and sidewalks are in good shape
for the winter. On June 22, city staff met with neighbors who will be affected by the project at Amos Hyatt Middle
School for an information meeting. Those who are directly impacted by the project received a mailing with a map and an invitation to attend the meeting. City Staff showed residents
large aerial photo maps on easels of the project and gave an overview of the project. They answered all question to the groups satisfaction and were available to discussed individual questions and concerns.
For information on latest update of projects with bidding documents, go to
here.
For Bid & Contract Information: go
here
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