Stormwater drainage project eyed in Dewey
An assessment of Dewey’s stormwater drainage system revealed that most pipes need to be relined over the next several years, and remaining pipes must be replaced due to broken, corroded or collapsed structures.
During a presentation to town commissioners Feb. 12, Kevin Zelinsky of Remington and Vernick Engineers said some structures were inaccessible due to water infiltration, or were too deteriorated to be televised and would be worsened if work continued.
The only thing holding up some pipes is the debris trapped inside them, Zelinsky said.
In January 2019, Assistant Town Manager Jim Dedes said, the town asked for a GIS stormwater infrastructure management mapping database. Remington and Vernick led the project to identify existing facilities, conduct a land survey and GPS data collection, and analyze water flow through pipes.
Work began in June 2019 and was to be presented to commissioners in spring 2020, but was sidelined due to COVID-19, Dedes said. As a result of a 1983 agreement with the state, Dedes said, the state is responsible for maintenance of Route 1 catch basins, and the town is responsible for maintaining the remaining drainage system.
The project included an assessment of infrastructure on Rodney, Read and McKinley streets from Route 1 to Rehoboth Bay, and then from Swedes to Bellevue streets on the bayside along Bayard Avenue.
Stormwater structures including storm manholes, inlets, catch basins and pipes were verified and mapped, and pipes were cleaned and televised to document where water is collecting and not draining properly.
Zelinsky outlined a prioritized list of infrastructure in need of replacing or repair. Pipes that are candidates for relining should be done right away before their conditions deteriorate; relining pipes is much cheaper than removing and replacing them, he said.
The work to reline multiple storm sewer line sections, including cleaning, televising, plugging, bypass pumping and groundwater control, on Read Avenue would cost $154,000. Similar work on Bayard Avenue infrastructure would cost $48,000; the town would receive a $3,500 discount by moving forward with work on both streets.
Information on the proposed project would be referred to the infrastructure committee to evaluate and vote whether or not to recommend the project to commissioners, Mayor Dale Cooke said. Commissioners would then vote on the issue; Cooke said a public hearing would be required to use funds set aside in the town infrastructure account, and financing may be possible with state assistance.
