It’s almost impossible to predict when a sewer or water pipe in Durango might clog or break. But if history can be a guide, one thing is for sure: It will happen again.
Of the 58 sewer clogs reported in the past three years, 38 happened last year. And of the 19 water-main repairs that occurred in the past three years, 16 happened in 2019.
The sheer amount of pipe buried under Durango – 146 miles for water and 107 miles for sewer – makes it almost impossible for utility crews to ensure all the city’s underground infrastructure is in good condition, said Jarrod Biggs, Durango’s assistant utilities director.
A quick snapshot of what sewer clogs and water-main breaks look like: A sewer pipe clogged twice last year in the 2500 block of West Third Avenue, about 2½ months apart, according to the Durango Utilities Department. And a water main broke twice in February under Folsom Place in two days.
Crews use pressurized hoses with spinning nozzles to remove tree roots that grow into wastewater lines and catch grease and cleansing wipes, Biggs said. A pebble on a pressurized water pipe can wear at the walls over time and cause it to burst, cutting or restricting residents’ access to fresh water, he said.
Much of the money spent to complete the hundreds of on-site sewer and water jobs comes from City Council-approved water and sewer rate increases since at least 2015, Biggs said.
Water and sewer revenue is driven by the number of ratepayers – people or businesses connected to the city infrastructure – and by rates set by the Durango City Council.
Water revenues from 2012 to 2017 rose by100%, from $4.17 million to $8.34 million, according to actual revenues recorded in city budget documents. Expenses in the water department in the same five years increased by 46%, from $4.6 million to $6.72 million.
Sewer revenue from 2012 to 2017 increased by 300%, from $1.96 million to $7.85 million. Sewer expenses during the same time rose by186%, from $2.26 million to $6.47 million.
Revenue not spent in either the water or sewer fund each year is used for projects designed to upgrade and improve utility infrastructure, Biggs said.
In 2019, for example, the water fund included 49 capital projects at a cost of about $17.1 million, he said. The money used to improve infrastructure came from excess revenue over expenditures in the water fund.
The city hired a fats, oils and grease (FOG) technician this year to ensure downtown business owners comply with city requirements to keep sewer lines clear. City crews clean sewer pipes downtown twice a year, Biggs said. Officials are considering doing the work quarterly, he said.
The FOG technician has been working to educate restaurant owners on where to dump fats, grease and oils, Biggs said. City code prohibits dumping fat, oil or grease into the sewer lines and the FOG technician may employ fines in the new year to enforce proper disposal, he said.
Officials also plan to hire a contractor to evaluate the city’s sewer and water infrastructure, which could give crews a better idea of where and when to work.
bhauff@durangoherald.com
