Service Lateral Rehabilitation: A Success Story

Sewer authorities in the Midwest United States face serious issues involving infiltration and inflow (I/I). And as our infrastructure ages and deteriorates, keeping sewer flow in the sewer system during major storm events becomes increasingly difficult. As we renew our sewer mains and manholes, we find all too often that infiltration and inflow (I/I) levels are not lowered as significantly as we had predicted. Yet we may be overlooking possibly the largest contributor to I/I - the private sector. Because of ownership and liability issues, the private sector of the sewer system is difficult to maintain and control. However, to be accountable for all I/I in the system, sewer authorities must monitor and inspect the entire system, including the private sector portion. This paper presents an approach to managing private sector I/I that includes 1) future surveillance of private sector flows by installation of monitoring cleanouts at public right-ofways and at future service connections to new homes, and, at the same time, 2) repair of one of the key locations of I/I in the system, the connection of the service lateral to the main.