Long-awaited work on sewers to give relief from flooding

Lee Kimmel stopped counting his damage at $6,000.

Five feet of smelly water in his basement last spring proved more than an inconvenience. It was a pain in the pocketbook, too, as his insurance reimbursed him for just $5,000.

The city's sewer system in the Arena Park and Ranchito area of Cape Girardeau -- a region between Cape Rock Drive and Hopper Road -- has eroded in spots and several leaks throughout the infrastructure provide means for sewer backwash to inundate many basements when sudden, heavy rains soak the soil.

After hearing complaints for at least 10 years, the city has begun the process of fixing the problem, paid for with a 1/4-cent sales tax for wastewater revenue bonds. The process of acquiring easements has begun and construction could start this fall, said Doug Leslie, director of public works. The design work is being reviewed by the Department of Natural Resources.

The project is estimated to cost $1.57 million and will include approximately 4,000 linear feet of 15-inch sanitary sewer line. It will replace the existing sanitary sewer line that extends from Arena Park to the north of Hopper Road and across Kingshighway north to Margaret Street.

"It's not as major as the overall downtown sewer separation, but it is extensive in length and, yes, it's a fairly major project," Leslie said.

Kimmel -- who lives at the corner of Kingshighway and Rodney Drive -- is familiar with major projects. He said he has had to pump out his basement at least eight times in the last five years.

At one point this spring, when storms flooded the region, he had five feet of water in his basement with water coming up through his shower. Usually, he said, hard rains only produce a foot of basement water.

Kimmel said he contacted the city about paying for some of his damage.

"But the legal department said the city doesn't pay for any bills for backup water," he said. "All the city would provide is a Dumpster."

Kimmel said it took three Dumpsters to discard his trash.

Taylor Warpole, who lives on Ranchito Drive, has experienced similar problems.

"We have water in our basement from time to time, when we get a hard rain," he said. "And over a period of time, we've had several hard rains."

Part of the problem is the sewer line itself. The sewer line was constructed in the 1930s and the public works department has discovered several leaks.

"It is very flat and the gravity flow from that is not very effective," Leslie said.

Adding to the situation is a lack of stormwater control. Included in the city's capital improvement plan is an upgrade in the stormwater system in the area. Until that is done, residents are hoping the new 15-inch mains will keep water out of their basements.

Gerald Flood, who lives on Stewart Drive off Hopper Road,said he has not had nearly as many flooding problems that others in his neighborhood have had, but he said he will give up easement for the project.

"I think it needs to happen," he said.

bmiller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127