Replacing Water, Sewer Lines is Long Game for Crystal

The city of Crystal is trying to develop a comprehensive review of its utilities, to see how water and sanitary sewer lines can be replaced over the next 60-plus years. A long term plan allows the city to be intentional about funding resources.

City engineer Mark Ray says routine street reconstruction doesn’t include digging deeper to replace or repair sewer or water lines.

“The biggest challenge area is a section of the city south of 32nd and north of 30th,” explained Ray. “We’ve had 10 water main breaks [there] over the last ten years.”

Ray adds that crews have identified another hole in a sanitary sewer pipe that could be a potential risk.

Ray says a total rebuild over the course of 75 years could push the total to an estimated $200 million dollars. Grant money is usually not an option for projects like these. Therefore, a long term plan could allow the city to be more intentional about funding resources

Crystal