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13' of the 4,000 long forcemain. The joints help seal the pipe, although they freeze and thaw and move with <br />the soil. On Friday, October 15th, 2021, a Y-fitting on the asbestos cement pipe forcemain immediately <br />downstream of the Main Lift Station broke, requiring immediate repair. An attempt was made to remove a <br />nearby cleanout cap during the forcemain repairs and the cap also broke. On Friday, February 18th, 2022, <br />another forcemain break was discovered and needed to be repaired immediately. Replacement parts for <br />this 555 to 63 years old system, are hard to come by <br />This forcemain is a critical component and described as the "bottleneck" of the Pequot Lakes wastewater <br />system. There are sags and cracks in the forcemain, and joints have become well-worn, exhibiting cracks <br />that create breaks in the system. The forcemain is constructed of 6-inch, Asbestos Cement pipe, which is <br />relatively brittle and may be compromised by excessive pressure surges and corrosion (2000, Wastewater <br />Fact Sheet, EPA). This creates pressure on the joints and a small crack will eventually weaken and physically <br />break. Increased flows on the aging pipes, possibly caused by the growth in use, may have contributed to <br />the eventual breaks in the current forcemain joints. Breaks in the forcemain may possibly "... create <br />significant contamination issues with raw sewage being discharged on the surface and contaminating the <br />groundwater," according to the 2022 Facility Plan. <br />The Pequot Lakes forcemain condition is "poor," as documented by cracks in the piping, broken fittings, and <br />caps. The combination with the poor condition, recent breaks, and emergency repairs, replacing the <br />forcemain is now considered an urgent issue. The combination of age, lack of replacement parts, and the <br />number of joints on the system make replacement of the forcemain the best alternative. <br />3. Is the proposed project on the state's Project Priority List (PPL)? <br />a. ® Yes — if so, what is the PPL number: #280768 <br />b. ❑ No <br />4. Will the system primarily benefit residential users? <br />a. ® Yes <br />b. ❑ No <br />5. If applicable, provide the number of homes outside of city limits using proposed system? <br />Narrative Answer: There are no homes outside city limits using this system. <br />Describe any existing identified critical health and/or safety issues? (Example: sewer backups, high levels <br />of contaminants, compliance/violations) <br />Narrative Answer: <br />The purpose of this project is to protect the health and safety of Pequot Lakes residents. There are two <br />health and safety issues that can potentially occur without this project, 1) wastewater backups caused by a <br />substandard lift station, and 2) groundwater leakage caused by forcemain breaks. With the recent breaks, it <br />is urgent to correct these deficiencies now. <br />Small Cities Development Program (SCDP) 2023 Full Proposal Public Facilities Infrastructure <br />