SEWER LATERALS — RECAPTURING CAPACITY — EASIER THAN EXPECTED

This paper presents the practical approach taken by the Springfield, Missouri utility to minimizeinfiltration and inflow (I/I) from private laterals. The utility had recaptured significant capacity by rehabilitating gravity mains and manholes over a ten year period but considerable capacitywas still being lost due to stormwater entering the sanitary system through private laterals.The utility found solutions that were far less onerous and costly than originally anticipated. There was initial concern about cost and disruptions to private property. Fortunately the utility had collected lateral defect data during the Sanitary Sewer Evaluation survey (SSES) of their mains and manholes. This data included quantification estimates of eliminating eight categories of I/I. By analyzing this data, a phased approach was developed that minimized the impact on rate payers and maximized the amount of capacity recaptured by the utility.The utility is working to obtain City Council approval to utilize a combination of public education and code enforcement to recapture sanitary sewer capacity lost to I/I.