By Nathan Phelps
A series of deep underground sewer lines in Green Bay are undergoing a $29 million rehabilitation over the next year.
N.E.W Water, the brand of the Green Bay Metropolitan Sewerage District, Executive Director Nathan Qualls said it’s work designed to keep these key lines functional.
N.E.W Water is in the early phases of a project to rehabilitate the nearly 100-year-old sewer lines in Green Bay and a small portion in the Village of Allouez
The project is expected to cost $29 million. Work is scheduled to be finished by the end of 2026
The early phases of the project include installing aboveground lines to by-pass those being worked on underground
For communities like Allouez, upkeep of village-owned sewer lines is an ongoing — annual — effort
“These are some of the oldest and deepest sewers in our community,” he said. “These three interceptor sewers are being rehabilitated. They’ve been in the ground about 100 years, and we need to rehabilitate them, reinvest in them so they can continue to serve for several decades more.”
The early phases of the project include installing aboveground lines to by-pass those being worked on underground.
“We’re utilizing trenchless technologies: cured in place pipe; spiral wound pipe and slip lining of pipe to provide a new surface,” Qualls said. “The interior surface of this pipe will be brand new after we’re done rehabilitating it.”
Sean Gehin is the director of public works in the Village of Allouez.
A small portion of the project extends into the village. He said it addresses a portion of the system no longer in use.
“The former system was sealed, but they’re going to come back in, and slurry backfill just to make sure that as that pipe deteriorates it doesn’t collapse and create any sinkholes,” Gehin said.
For communities like Allouez, upkeep of village-owned sewer lines is an ongoing — annual — effort.
“Whether it be lining or the re-lay of sanitary sewer, it’s critical that we have a good conveyance system that’s watertight,” Gehin said.
Qualls said the project is aimed at heading off major issues. It is scheduled to be finished by the end of 2026.
“Providing new lining in a pipe is really important. It’s going to stop leaking into that pipe through cracks. It’s also really important from a structural standpoint,” he said. “These really old sewers start to age, and they start to see cracks and degradation of the concrete. This is going to give it a new, strong, structural liner and prevent any kind of sinkholes or any kind of catastrophic failure of the sewer.”
To learn more about this project, and/or to sign up for project updates, please visit www.newwater.us/downtown