Mt. Laurel MUA issues update on Hartford Road reopening after leak on sanitary sewer force main
On Tuesday, May 31 at 7 p.m., the Mt. Laurel MUA experienced another leak on the 24” sanitary sewer force main on Hartford Road, just South of Route 38.
Crews worked continuously through the night and all day today to repair the pipe. The sanitary sewer system will return to normal operations by 5 p.m. today, June 1. At that time customers may resume regular use.
As part of its Asset Management Program, the Mt. Laurel MUA has continually rehabilitated parts of its sanitary force main system network.
Pam Carolan, executive director explained, “We have been analyzing and implementing options to replace or rehabilitate sections of this 45 year old main as parts of it have reached the end of its useful life.”
The Hartford Road section is a critical length of pipe due to the fact that 80 percent of the sewage generated in Mt. Laurel flows through this line. Current use of over three million gallons per day is too much to truck even with continuous sewage hauling by over 20 vehicles.
After the leak in January of this year, the MUA brought in a corrosion protection consultant to analyze the damaged section of pipe.
“We learned that the damage was caused by electromagnetic induced current,” Carolan said.
This, combined with acidic soil, has caused extensive corrosion seriously weakening the pipe, and replacement the Hartford Road section of main quickly took priority over other planned projects.
The MUA included replacement of this section of main in this fiscal year’s budget and upon presenting the approximately $7 million replacement project, the board of directors unanimously approved the spending.
MUA Board Chairman Chris Smith stated “We need to do this project now so that we can provide the level of service expected by our customers.”
The MUA can’t rule out the fact that additional leaks may occur on this section of pipe before it’s replaced.
Construction of the first phase of the Hartford pipe replacement will begin in nine to 12 months, after all permits and approvals are obtained.
Hartford Road will remain closed to through traffic until approximately 9 p.m. June 1 tonight, reopening for the overnight hours and closing again Thursday, June 2 at approximately 9 a.m. through 4:30 p.m. for road restoration.
The MUA thanks customers who so willingly reduced their usage, as well as employees and construction crews that worked non-stop on this repair.
