Council Approves Capshaw Sewer Rehab Project

Cookeville City Council approved a $1.3 million sewer rehabilitation project during Thursday’s meeting.

Water and Sewer Director Ronnie Kelly said the Capshaw Interceptor running through Capshaw Woods has reached its age limit.

“It’s an 18-inch, old concrete line that was [installed] in the 50s,” Kelly said. “So we’ll be working on that project. We considered different methods to do it… but we felt like the best way to do it was sort of like what we’ve done in the past. We’ll line the pipe and keep the capacity there.”

The project will include the installation of a cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) inside the existing line. Kelly said this method was chosen as the pipeline runs through a cave system.

“It’s basically like, if you can envision, a tube sock and inverting it down into the sewer line either by steam or by water pressure,” Kelly said. “Then it will cure against the walls and make a fiber glass liner, basically.”

Kelly said during the meeting he’s unsure how long the CIPP will last once installed because other projects using the liner haven’t seen deterioration.

“These guys had the patent on it back in the late 70s, early 80s, and I’m not sure anybody knows yet,” Kelly said. “It’ll be here when we’re all gone. But I don’t know if I can answer that.”

Kelly said the bidding process will take about two months before the project gets underway.