The City is looking to test a voluntary program that would allow homeowners to replace their sanitary laterals, free of charge, from the sanitary sewer main all the way to their home via pipe bursting.

At the February 12, 2024 Board of Public Works Meeting, Engineering staff presented on Full Length Sanitary Lateral Replacements. You can watch that portion of the meeting here:

Pipe bursting is a technique used to replace sanitary sewer laterals by pulling a new plastic pipe through the existing host pipe.  There are two excavations required, one in the basement floor and the other at the sanitary sewer main.  The advantage to this technique is that there is a new, homogeneous plastic pipe from the house all the way to the main.  The diagram below provides an overview of the process:

Pipe Bursting Diagram

This work would be completed as part of the utility relay and street resurfacing projects.  The standard practice for the City has been replacing clay and concrete sanitary sewer laterals from the sanitary sewer main, which is usually located in the middle of the road, to the property line which is located on the backside of the sidewalk.  This is done by excavating down to the existing sanitary sewer lateral and physically replacing the pipe.  This is considered the open cut method, as the contractor is required to open the road and dig down to the pipe needing replacement.  Often, this work is done in conjunction with the water service replacement for a property as they are commonly found in the same trench.

There are mutual benefits in completing this work for both the homeowner and the City.  The negative effects of tree roots, offset pipes, cracked pipes, and inflow and infiltration would all be mitigated through this process as pipe bursting would result in one homogeneous pipe, with fused joints immune to tree roots and inflow and infiltration.

There are no anticipated costs for homeowners to have this work completed in conjunction with the City’s 2024 utility construction work.

PROPERTY ENTRY

Prior to work start, the City will coordinate access onto private property with the property owner.  A temporary construction easement would be signed for the duration of work to allow the City and its crew to access the property and enter the home to complete this work.  A small excavation in the basement floor would be required.

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

  • If a foundation drain is found to be connected to the sanitary lateral as part of this work, a sump pump basin will be installed to collect the ground water. Homeowners would then be required to install their own sump pump.  If your property is part of the Foundation Drain Disconnection Program, you’d be eligible for an 80% reimbursement for the sump pump installation and associated plumbing and electrical work. 
  • Homeowners will have the option to purchase a backwater check-valve as part of this work. A check-valve is installed to prevent water from flowing backwards into the home.  The billing of this work would be coordinated directly through the contractor.

 If you are interested in this voluntary pipe bursting program or have additional questions, please reach out to the City of De Pere Engineering Division at dppubwrks@deperewi.gov or call at 920-339-4061.