The Lawndale Basin is located in northern Hillsborough. The project area includes an easement between Rainey Avenue and Torain Street and portions of:

• Hill Street Circle
• Lawndale and Rainey Avenues
• Cornelius and Torain Streets

See the Project Area Map.

Funding

The project is estimated to cost almost $2.1 million.

The town is applying for a low-interest loan of over $1.1 million from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, which would include loan forgiveness for up to $500,000 of the funding.

The remaining part of the project will be paid for from reserve funds and should have no impact on future customer rates.

Current Phase

A bid process to select a contractor to perform the work is expected to reopen in 2024. The town is applying for a low-interest state loan to fund the project.

The rehabilitation and replacement project is a result of a study conducted in 2022 in which the town looked at the condition of sewer connections in the Lawndale Basin and traced the connections from homes. The town:

• Used a camera to view sewers.
• Blew smoke in the sewers.
• Put dye in certain sewers.

The town maintains the public portion of sewer lines. Property owners are responsible for a section of the sewer connections.

• See the public and private sewer lines graphic.

To line a sewer, a flexible resin inverted “sock” is inserted into the sewer main through manholes.

• The sock is fed from a large truck through a manhole with a tripod over it.
• Crew on the receiving end secure the lining through another manhole.

The sock then is cured or hardened to the pipe's shape. Crews use hot steam or water or sometimes ultraviolet light for the curing process.

Finally, a machine cuts openings in the relined pipe for any sewer services connected to the sewer main.

Timeline and hours — Once the project moves forward, it is expected to start in the summertime and take about six months to complete.

Hours — Construction activities will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday unless approved in writing by the town. Workers will provide access to roads and adjacent properties.

Traffic control — At times, traffic will be reduced to one lane or detoured.

Preparation — Workers will place a project sign or signs at key entrances to the area and will bring equipment and materials to the area. Paint markings or flags will be placed on the ground where digging may occur. These identify underground utilities. Paint markings wash off with time. Please do not disrupt the project markings.

Equipment — Equipment will include dump trucks and excavators. If materials are stored on private property, the contractor should have a written contract with the property owner.

Safety — Several people will be at the project site to observe safety compliance and direct or watch for traffic. If you have any concerns, please contact town staff.

Odor — Occasionally, the curing process for lining a sewer may produce a “glue like” odor. During short-term exposure, this odor can cause eye irritation, headache and discomfort. The odor will disappear once the pipe lining is fully hardened.

The odor may enter your home through the pipe that connects your home to the public sewer main. To eliminate the odor faster:

• Open windows and doors
• Operate a fan.
• Briefly turn on water from faucets to fill the P-trap fitting on pipes. This is a U-shaped pipe that keeps sewer gas and other vapors out of your home or building.

If the odor persists after ventilating, contact town staff.

Post-construction — The contractor will restore areas disturbed by the project.