The University’s sewer system will receive some crucial updates at no cost to the University as the city of Baton Rouge continues its decade-long effort to update the parish sewer system, portions of which are more than 100 years old.
According to the plans negotiated between the University and the city of Baton Rouge as part of the Baton Rouge Sanitary Sewer Overflow Control and Wastewater Facilities Program, or SSO program, the University will allow the city to run new sewer lines through campus in exchange for a new LSU pump station and main sewer line. The SSO program began in 2002.
The University currently has a sewer line that pumps 85 percent of the sewage on campus from the power house to the city’s central treatment facility on River Road, which will ultimately be eliminated as part of the SSO program, said Jim Mayne, associate director of Utility Services.
Mayne said when the University’s 60-year-old main line broke in 2006 and again in 2007, emergency plans were drawn up to replace the line.
However, when the city came to LSU with plans for the SSO program, Mayne said it was cost-effective and efficient for the University to give the city the right of way to pass through campus. This plan will allow the city to reduce construction and operating costs, and in exchange for the prime LSU real estate, the city will build the University a new pump station and replace the old line, Mayne said.
The Baton Rouge SSO program was established to address existing sewer overflow and wastewater challenges in the city and parish while simultaneously focusing on plans for future growth in the area, according to BRprojects.com.
“It is a project to try to eliminate storm water in the sewer system and also eliminate sewage in the storm water system,” Mayne said. “The goal is to increase the efficiency of the sewer system.”
Mayne said the real impact of the construction will begin soon when construction starts on Gourrier Avenue toward the LSU Child Care Center, possibly blocking traffic on that street.
“Hopefully, the only impact students will see would be some traffic problems,” Mayne said.
He said the goal is for the construction near campus to be completed by Sept. 1 to avoid unnecessary traffic congestion during football season.
However, Mayne said if the city cannot meet this goal, there are provisions in place to focus on completing construction specific to the LSU campus. The portion of the SSO program utilizing University property, called PS42 Force Main, is separated into two phases that have been in the works since 2008, according to the SSO program website. Phase A is still under construction and will cost the city approximately $15.5 million, and Phase B will cost about $12.3 million.
Phase A will run sewer lines from Lee Drive all the way to the Gardere Lane treatment plant, known as the city’s south plant, and Phase B will run lines back to the PS42 Force Main being constructed on Nicholson Drive, Mayne said.
These pumped lines, which were originally going to go around campus down River Road, will run straight through campus as part of the agreement.
The University’s pump station will be constructed after the PS42 Force Main project is completed, Mayne said.
“Hopefully, the only impact students will see would be some traffic problems.”
