Amador County – An sewer line overflow last week in Ione has staff suggesting the need to replace the sewer main along the length of Preston Avenue, which could cost nearly a quarter of a million dollars.

Ione City Council received a report this week detailing the overflow, which leaked about 500 gallons of raw sewage onto a private property on Craig Street.

City Manager Kim Kerr said early Tuesday that the sewer main along Preston Avenue might be as old as the system itself, from the 1950s. It was known to have cracks, but now the intrusion of root balls has caused blocks.

The report said the city received a complaint Jan. 24 of a possible sewer collection system overflow off of Preston Avenue. PERC Water responded and determined a line at a “residence was overflowing raw sewage and it had flowed into an adjacent yard of a house on Craig Street.” The PERC crew determined the main was blocked along Preston Avenue, north of Waterman Drive, causing the overflow.

PERC cleared the blockage, and on Jan. 25, the city’s insurance provider worked with PERC and property owners to clean up the raw sewage that flowed into the yards. Unfortunately, the house where the sewer collection system overflowed is vacant and about 500 gallons spilled before detection and blockage repair.

Kerr said “no raw sewage entered any residents, just backyards.” She said it was the second back up in the last four months and there are reoccurring backups and overflows on this line that need addressing.

Kerr said City Engineer John Wanger “has researched the sewer main for Preston Avenue due to the reoccurring overflow issues we have had.” Wanger “determined that the sewer main needs repairs or replacement the length of Preston Avenue.” Wanger’s estimate to make the repairs was $225,471, if the city completes the repairs and/or replacement for the length of Preston Avenue.”

She said “if the project is broken down into segments, then the cost is higher due to multiple factors. Kerr said they will likely try to look at making replacements in stages.

Kerr said she would seek city council permission to address the issues “by having the city engineer prepare the specifications and issue the bid documents.”

The contract cost for the city engineer on the project was $21,745, which was included in the total cost of $225,471 to replace and/or repair the sewer main on Preston Avenue.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.