The Department of Public Works has hired Humphrey & Sons, Inc. to implement sanitary sewer repairs along the Rockville Pike corridor beginning in March 2008 and continuing for about three months.  These repairs consist of installing a liner into sewer pipes and manholes.  The liner will coat the interior of the pipes and manholes to seal any cracks.  The goal of this project is to prevent any groundwater, stormwater runoff, or tree roots from entering into the City’s sanitary sewer system.  The lining process is completed without any excavation because the liner is installed through manholes.  Humphrey’s crews have started gathering field information and looking inside the sewer pipes.

These sewer system improvements were identified in a Sanitary Sewer Evaluation Study completed in 2007.  The purpose of the study was to identify sources of inflow and infiltration (I&I) along the Rockville Pike corridor between Edmonston Drive and Rollins Avenue.  Infiltration occurs when groundwater seeps into sewers through cracks and holes in the pipeline, pipe connection, and manholes.  Inflow occurs when stormwater enters the sewer through roof drains (connected to the sewer system), manhole covers, or illicit storm drain connections into the sewer.  I&I reduces the capacity of sewer pipes to convey wastewater.  I&I also increases the amount of wastewater flow requiring treatment at the Blue Plains Wastewater Facility in the District of Columbia.  It is important to decrease I&I in the City’s sewer system for increasing pipe capacity and reducing treatment costs.

The sewer rehabilitation work will line approximately 6,000-feet of sewer pipe and six manholes.  You will see crews accessing manholes and there may be temporary disruptions in water service.  The entire study area is being notified of this impending work.  Properties that will have water service shut off will be notified at least 48 hours in advance of the disruption.

Contact information for this project:

John Hollida, Rockville Project Manager, at 240-314-8526
Email:  jhollida@rockvillemd.gov

Greg Middleton, Rockville Inspector, at 240-314-8547
Email:  gmiddleton@rockvillemd.gov

Hugh Humphrey, Humphrey & Sons, Inc. (Contractor)
301-725-9075 (office)
240-882-0224 (cell)