CU completes 11-mile water pipeline that started in 1999

City Utilities of Springfield is celebrating the completion of a construction project with a timeline that predates the 21st century.

A nearly 11.3-mile pipeline that carries water to Blackman Water Treatment Plant from Fellows Lake is now complete after getting its start in 1999, according to a news release. The pipeline, composed of a 48-inch water main, runs parallel to an existing 36-inch line between Fellows Lake and the Blackman plant, and it's designed to create redundancy to minimize potential water supply interruptions in the event of maintenance.

“This infrastructure project represents a major milestone for long-term water reliability in Springfield,” said Krista Shurtz, CU vice president of natural gas and water operations, in the release. "We appreciate the many employees and contractors whose expertise and teamwork made this project possible."

CU officials cited a phased approach to development – to spread costs and minimize customer impact – for the lengthy development timeline. A CU spokesperson said this morning that roughly 25 CU engineers led and designed the project, while construction was completed by more than 15 contractors.

The pipeline project received $3.5 million in U.S. Environmental Protection Agency funding and had a total cost of roughly $32 million.

"Despite the extended timeline, this approach also allowed City Utilities to carefully coordinate each segment of construction around existing infrastructure and development," CU officials said in the release.

The new pipeline can carry an estimated 5.5 million gallons of water, and special casings were installed at each crossing to allow for easier repairs, officials say.