Wolf Creek Pump Station Gets Maintenance Overhaul

Upsizing the gravity sewer pipes between Simpsonwood Park and Jones Bridge Park

Ask any long-time homeowner about maintenance and you’ll probably hear a groan followed by hours of cautionary tales about leaky roofs, busted pipes or sagging foundations. Ask any municipal government and the to-do list is a thousand times longer.

One of the most noticeable maintenance projects in the metro area is keeping up with waterways and sewage systems.

To that end, Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources has begun upsizing approximately two miles of gravity sewer from 20-inch diameter to 36-inch diameter between Simpsonwood Park and Jones Bridge Park. 

According to a press release, the pipeline was installed in the early 1980s and runs parallel to the Chattahoochee River.  This sewer upgrade project also includes an expansion to the existing Wolf Creek Pump Station located inside Simpsonwood Park to increase the capacity to serve the recent growth in the area.  The pump station improvements consist of land clearing and grading to install a new emergency storage basin, electrical building, and generator. 

Although 40 years may not seem such a long time to Generation Xers and those born prior to that era, renovation and modernization is needed to ensure continued reliability, according to GCDWR officials.

“This project will improve the reliability of this regional pump station by installing emergency storage, a new generator, an electrical building, grinders and a surge tank,” said GCDWR Director Tyler Richards during an appearance before the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners last year.

She shared the scope and intended outcome of the project.

“The project will also increase the capacity of the pump station for future growth by installing new larger pumps,” she added.

The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the project in November. It was awarded to Lakeshore Engineering Group LLC in an amount capped at just under $10.5 million.

Unlike neighbors DeKalb and Fulton counties, Gwinnett hasn’t had the high rate of sewer leaks and federal government intervention to mandate projects to eliminate discharging untreated sewage into waterways including the Chattahoochee and South Rivers.

The intent of the project is to increase the firm capacity of the Wolf Creek Pump Station by replacing the existing pumps with new larger pumps.  Due to the scope of the project, a large number of trees in the area will be removed. The removal of the trees is required to allow for underground storage. Limited re-planting will commence once the project is complete

The project complies with Chattahoochee River Corridor regulations and is expected to take 18-24 months for the pump station and sewer upgrades. Construction is not anticipated to cause any sewer service disruptions, and the impact to the public is estimated to be minimal.

More information can be found at www.gwinnettwaterprojects.com.

Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG) Wreak Havoc on Sewer Systems

Pour bacon grease down the sink followed by a stream of hot water may seem like a good way to get rid of unwanted fats, but it can create bigger problems further down the pipe.

Fats, oils and grease can cause serious problems for the sewer system. Fats derived from meats, cheeses, ice cream and butters; oils including vegetable, canola and olive oils, as well as oil-based salad dressings; and grease melted fat from cooking meats that becomes solid again at room temperature will solidify and cling to the walls of the indoor plumbing, as well as the public sewer pipes outside. Eventually, FOG accumulation can completely block these pipes and cause sewage to backup into homes or overflow from manholes and discharge into local streams. These overflows can cost taxpayers and the city money and pose a serious threat to the environment.

That is why consumers are urged to keep fats, oils and grease from going down the drain.

• Absorb small volumes of liquid food wastes such as milkshakes and sauces with paper towels or newspaper, then dispose of it in the trash.

• Pour used oil and grease into a container with a lid and place it in the trash for disposal.

• Wipe FOG from pots, pans and plates before washing to reduce the amount of residue going down the drain. Remember that hot water and detergents do break up FOG, but it will recombine when temperatures drop in the underground pipes and when the detergent is diluted by rinse water.

Information:  www.peachtreecornersga.gov and click on “Stormwater,” in the “Government” tab.