The planned Superior Utilities curtailment of water use during the nighttime hours planned for this week, was rescinded after last week’s papers were printed but not before they were delivered. The change in plans demonstrated why The Express now encourages readers to follow the website at http://www.superiorne.com as well as the printed edition.
It was learned last Wednesday that a large valve that was to be installed during the curtailment had been lost in transit and was not expected to arrive in time for the work to proceed as planned. It has now been found and the work rescheduled for next week. A separate story elsewhere in this issue, gives the particulars which are identical to the instructions given last week.
But keep checking our website for project updates. It may be necessary to change the plan again.
While the valve’s delayed arrival changed some plans, construction of the new water treatment plant on East Fifteenth Street continues to make good progress. The plant is not scheduled to go on line until 2025. As part of the construction, it will be necessary to install a new pipeline and the trenching for that line is not scheduled to be done until after the fall harvest. By delaying the trenching the work will not disturb unharvested crops.
And unlike the treatment plant being constructed at Belleville, the Superior plant is not urgent. At Belleville nitrates in the water have climbed to a dangerous level. That is not the case here. Instead, the Superior utility department wants to be ready should problems develop.
Work has continued this week on the replacement of a tube under Highway 8 between the Agrex Elevator and South Central Veterinarian Clinic.
The pipe under the highway carries Bostwick Irrigation District water from the Superior Canal located north of Seventh Street to farm fields south of the BNSF railroad tracks. The pipe was installed 70 or more years ago when the canal system was built. It had failed and was leaking causing the highway to deteriorate in that location.
Van Kirk Brothers Construction has the job to install a replacement pipe. The company is using a pipe jacking system with minimum surface disruption.
It involves jacking a mechanized tunneling shield forward from a launch shaft toward a reception shaft. Jacking pipes are progressively inserted into the working shaft. A thixotropic slurry is injected into the outside perimeter of the pipes to reduce the resistance.
Slip lining sewer work is currently underway in the western part of Superior. This process inserts a cured in-place plastic liner inside the existing sewer pipe.
Superior isn’t the only area town installing a water treatment plant and experiencing delays.
Belleville was to have a new plant in operation by now but has been delayed by a series of problems. The latest problem with the $5 million project involves overheating pumps. The original March completion date has been moved back to October or November.
While Superior’s water has been and continues to be safe to drink, the Belleville water supply has been at or above the maximum safe drinking level of 10 parts per million for a year or longer.
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