Sussex County Scheduled to Perform Extensive Sewer Service Repairs in April

PDF of Letter

To:  Bridgeville Residents & Businesses

Re:  Sewer System Rehabilitation Project – March 28, 2023

Over the last year, the County has been inventorying and assessing the sewer system in Bridgeville.  As you may already know, Bridgeville’s sewer system is older and has many clay sewer mains, which are fragile and prone to cracks and leaks.  To make repairs without having to replace the entire system, the County has brought in Standard Pipe Services to clean, inspect, and repair the sewer lines with a lining system.

The choice to line rather than replace the mains will minimize the impact on the public, both in the cost of the system to you and street accessibility while repairs are being made. The lining system provides structural support and seals pipe fractures, essentially creating a new pipe within a pipe.

Repair work is scheduled to start in mid-April and is expected to continue for around 30 days.  Standard Pipe Services will also issue separate notifications before the work begins on specific streets.

What to Expect:

• While work is underway on a specific line, you can expect an 8 to 10-hour sewer service outage. Again, you will be notified by Standard Pipe Services with a more specific time frame and details for the outage in advance of the work.
• Some odors may occur – The pipe lining process involves the use of a plastic resin (styrene) that has a distinctive odor. Detection of this odor does not necessarily constitute a health hazard – odor can be detected at a level 20 times lower than the established hazard limit per OSHA workplace regulations.  However, please avoid the worksites while construction is underway, as there is a potential for health hazards at the manholes.  If you are concerned about the chemical odors, please contact the County.
• The most common way for this distinctive odor, or sewer gases in general, to enter a structure is through a dry or defective trap connected to the sewer system. We recommend taking the following steps to prevent odors from entering your structure:
  • Fill all plumbing traps, especially if a sink or shower is not regularly used.
  • Cover floor drains or drains without plumbing traps.
• Some noise – due to the type of equipment needed to make these repairs, some engine noise is expected during the work window.
• Limited street access – lane closures will limit street access while each section is being worked on. Local traffic will be permitted in and out of their properties.  Crews will operate directly in the sewer manholes – no excavation will be planned for this project unless an emergency occurs.

The streets that have sewer lines currently planned for repair are highlighted on this map and are listed below:

• The western end of Federalsburg Road. (In front of Shark’s Service Center)
• Market Street from the railroad tracks to the Bridgeville Town Hall.
• Walnut Street from the S. Cannon intersection to Main Street.
• Edgewood Street from S. Cannon intersection to Main Street.
• Sussex Avenue from 100 Block West to the end. (Not Sussex Extended)
• Church Street near Phyllis Wheatley Elementary School (no service impacts to residents in this area, construction notice only)

Ed Leonhartt

Project Engineer, Engineering Administration

(302) 855-7852/(302) 855-7718

Edward.Leonhartt@sussexcountyde.gov