Lincoln Plans $118 Million in Sewer Improvements Over the Next 20 Years

Lincoln is planning for nearly $118 million in sewer system improvements over the next two decades, as the city prepares its underground infrastructure for an aging system and continued growth.

The Lincoln City Council approved an updated Sewer Master Plan in September, laying out projects intended to repair older portions of the city's sewer network while expanding the system to meet future needs.

It is infrastructure most Lincoln residents rarely see.

The city's wastewater system currently includes more than 200 miles of sewer mains, 58 miles of laterals, 17 miles of force mains, 3,558 manholes and 10 sewer lift stations.

Some of that infrastructure is also remarkably old.

According to the city's current budget, approximately 12 miles of sewer mains in downtown Lincoln were installed before 1929. The city considers those aging lines a priority for replacement.

One current rehabilitation project targets sewer lines around 7th Street, F Street, 6th Street and the alley between E and F streets. That project alone carries an estimated cost of approximately $3.9 million.

Planning for a Growing Lincoln

The new master plan isn't simply about replacing old pipes.

Lincoln continues to grow, and new neighborhoods, businesses and development require additional sewer capacity. The master plan helps the city determine where larger pipes, pump stations and other improvements will eventually be necessary.

The city describes infrastructure master plans as a blueprint for future expansion while also identifying deficiencies in existing systems.

Importantly, the city says new development is required to pay its share of infrastructure needed to serve that development. Existing utility rates are intended to cover the cost of operating the sewer system along with repairing and replacing existing pipelines and equipment.

Why Plan 20 Years Ahead?

Major sewer projects can take years to design, finance and construct.

A long-range plan allows Lincoln to prioritize projects before aging infrastructure fails and coordinate improvements with expected growth.

Lincoln has previously acknowledged that sewer-line replacement has been limited in past years because of funding constraints. The city's goal has been to move toward replacing aging pipelines on a more consistent schedule rather than relying on isolated repairs when problems occur.

For residents, much of the work outlined in the plan may eventually happen underground and largely out of sight.

But as Lincoln continues to grow, those pipes, pumping stations and other pieces of infrastructure will play an increasingly important role in keeping the city running.