by James Coulter
The City of Lake Wales is considering spending approximately $130,000 to clean the Eagle Ridge Mall and Southside force mains. Both cleanings are expected to be provided by Professional Piping Inc.
At their workshop on Wed. Dec. 11, 2024, Lake Wales city commissioners reviewed the agenda item, which is one of many on the consent agenda for the next city commission meeting, scheduled for Tues. Dec. 17 at 6 PM.
Both mains require periodic cleaning due to the long distance and low flow conditions that water travels from the wastewater treatment plant through the line, which often leads to an accumulation of sand, dirt, and other debris.
“As a result, the force main could potentially clog, crippling the collections system for the service area,” wrote Holly Britt, Utilities Operations Manager, in the city agenda memo.
The cleaning for the Eagle Ridge force main will cost an estimated $78,729.72, while the cleaning for the Southside main will cost $51,399.60. Combined, both costs total 130,129.32.
Professional Piping Services (PPS) has been providing the services for these cleanings for the past several years. City staff have sought bids from other potential services, but the number of overall responses has declined over the past few years.
BThese cleanings were originally scheduled annually; however, they have since been scheduled for every two to three years, Britt explained at the meeting.
As such, the method for cleaning these mains has been colloquially dubbed by city staff as the “progressive poly pig procedure.”
Both items will be voted on during next week’s city commission meeting, scheduled for Tues. Dec. 17, 2024mat 6 PM at Lake Wales City Hall, located at: 201 W Central Ave, Lake Wales, FL 33853.
