Efforts continue to clear a seriously clogged sewer line along North 35th Street near Evanston Ave N. Concrete slurry entered the sewer pipe during construction of a new building that will replace one that burned in September 2014. The slurry effectively blocked the pipe and while Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) has created a bypass, they’ve also been working on clearing the blockage for the last two months.
Recently, SPU sent out information to neighbors along N 35th St, explaining that they’ve been evaluating the situation to determine which repair method would minimize service disruptions, result in the lowest costs (paid for by rate payers,) and disrupt traffic and neighborhood circulation the least. They’ve begun using robotic equipment to clear the line and CCTV to investigate the extent of the damage, to be better informed about what will be required in the way of repairs/replacement.
Last week, SPU started chipping away at the slurry. When they first were alerted to the clog, they tried to clear the line using standard cleaning equipment, however the amount of slurry is so significant that this failed to clear the blockage. The chipping started on December 27th, and could take up to three weeks to complete.
The investigation will reveal whether the blockage, in a pipe buried 30-feet deep, can be repaired using trenchless technology – lowering the costs and traffic impacts. SPU have committed to try and minimize the disruptions in what has already been a long, frustrating process for everyone involved. For more information, contact Stan Sayenko, Capital Project Coordinator, at stan.sayenko@seattle.gov, or Rachel Ramey, Senior Community Outreach Specialist, at rachel.ramey@seattle.gov or 206/233-7279.