04/16/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/16/2024 09:46
April 16, 2024 - Acting Mayor Karl Bandemer joined residents of the Rolling Hills neighborhood, City Council members and City Utilities staff to announce more than $130 million in water, sewer and stormwater improvements for this year that will strengthen neighborhoods.
Stormwater improvements will address chronic flooding in Rolling Hills, a neighborhood with standing water issues that frequently threaten homes and cause thick ice in the winter.
"City Utilities continues to provide vital services that meet critical needs for residents and businesses," said acting mayor Bandemer. "This year's plan for neighborhood infrastructure enhancements will help our community grow and succeed while we also protect the environment and continue to be good stewards of ratepayer dollars."
This year marks the second straight year that City Utilities' investments will exceed $135 million. Over the past 10 years, more than $1 billion has gone into system-wide improvements.
"We are grateful to our City Council for consistently supporting our efforts to replace aging infrastructure and strengthen our community. These utility investments are vital for our residents, schools, businesses, and the broader region. Our community depends on the reliable water and sewer services we provide and the effective management of stormwater, said Kumar Menon, Director of City Utilities. "Our improvements support daily needs and are crucial for economic growth, contributing to job creation and regional prosperity."
Besides the Rolling Hills neighborhood, stormwater enhancements will occur throughout the City. Some of the more expansive ones include:
Work to change out aging and failing water mains will continue for the Water Utility. Significant projects in 2024 include:
In the Sewer Utility, work will continue on the consolidation sewers that will connect the neighborhoods of Indian Village, Southwood Park and Woodhurst to the drop shaft at Foster Park and the Three Rivers Protection and Overflow Reduction Tunnel (3RPORT). Work will also proceed at the deep dewatering pump station, which will pump flow out of the tunnel for treatment work. Plans are for the tunnel to be operational by the end of the year.
Further, several sanitary sewers will be rehabbed in the East Central, LaRez, Renaissance Point and Chapel Oaks Neighborhood.
Significant additional project work encompasses:
Each of these projects will help lower greenhouse gas emissions by finding alternative energy sources. They will simultaneously improve resiliency at the facilities and keep downward pressure on rising energy costs.