District of Clearwater recently removed approximately nine tandem truckloads of heavy solids and debris from its sewer system.
The clean-out was the outcome of a closed circuit TV inspection that was attempted earlier.
The CCTV inspection was to be completed in 2014, chief administrative officer Leslie Groulx reported to town council during its Aug. 18 meeting.
However, that did not occur and the money was again allocated in the 2015 sewer budget.
A contract for the inspection was awarded last May. However, the inspection found heavy amounts of solids that needed to be removed.
Another contractor was engaged to remove the solids and debris using a high-powered combination flusher/vacuum truck.
The inspection revealed nearly an extra 600 m of sewer line that weren’t in the District's records (4900 m versus 4300 m). It also located three buried manholes.
Clearwater’s sewer system services Weyerhaeuser subdivision and surrounding area, including the hospital.
The unanticipated work resulted in an $11,000 cost overrun for a project that had been expected to cost $12,000.
Council approved the extra spending without too much debate.
"It’s a cost overrun but it was good to get it done," commented councillor Gord Heisterman.
Councillor Merlin Blackwell described the video taken inside the municipal sewer lines as, "Riveting."