Construction is starting for an important sanitary sewer project in downtown Green Bay, to ensure nonstop services to flush the toilet, run the dishwasher, and operate businesses around the clock.
NEW Water, the brand of the Green Bay Metropolitan Sewerage District, is leading the Downtown Interceptors Renewal Project (DIRP), and is coordinating and collaborating with the City of Green Bay. Contractors will be seen in areas downtown (see enclosed map, which is also linked here) to renew pipes that have been in operation since Franklin D. Roosevelt was president.
“Our underground wastewater infrastructure may be hidden from view, but it’s the backbone of vital services we depend on every day. By renewing these aging pipes, we’re not just maintaining our systems – we’re investing in public health, supporting business operations, and serving those who live, work, and play in our community,” said Nathan Qualls, P.E., Executive Director of NEW Water.
Contractors and construction crews are currently mobilizing to the site and starting with preparations for the project. Large black pipes will be seen being transported to the site in the coming days. The City of Green Bay will be sending media alerts regarding road closures occurring as a result of this project.
NEW Water owns and operates many miles of underground pipes, including a series of larger, deeper pipes called an interceptor system, located throughout our service area. In downtown Green Bay, portions of this system have been in operation since the 1930s, and are in need of improvements in order to continue to function efficiently. The cost of this project is expected to be about $29 million, which is funded through NEW Water wholesale rates to its 15 municipal customers. The improvements are needed to revitalize aging infrastructure to protect public health and the environment.
NEW Water serves 239,000 residents as well as the businesses, industries, and visitors to Northeast Wisconsin, providing wastewater collection and treatment services.
To learn more about this project, and/or to sign up for project updates, please visit www.newwater.us/downtown