Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm
Reporter – News Analyst
November 9, 2016 11:00 a.m.
When Fernandina Beach Utilities Department Director John Mandrick sat down to read the latest issue of Trenchless Technology, he was taken somewhat aback. There on page 68 of the October 2016 issue was his photo and the city logo. As he read on, Mandrick realized that his department’s work on rehabilitating manholes and pipes had been highlighted as a cost saving, practical way to extend the life of old manholes in the city’s sewer system.
The city of Fernandina Beach sewer system consists of 95 miles of sewer pipe and 1,461 manholes. Because of the age of the system, many of the city manholes are brick, while sewer pipe sections are clay. As a result of the high water table and natural rainfall water was seeping into the system and adding to the load of the sewage treatment facility.
Mandrick realized that selling the City Commission on a $20M expansion to handle the increasing load on the sewage treatment plant would be a heavy lift, so he began investigating alternative solutions. In 2005, and with City Commission approval, he embarked on what was intended to be a 7-year program that utilized a spray applied liner for manhole rehabilitation work and cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) technology to seal leaky pipes.
Mandrick told the Fernandina Observer, “The original project was a seven year period from 2005 to 2012 but we have continued to add additional years on for gravity line inspection, cleaning and relining as needed.”
Savings were realized almost immediately. Mandrick reported that the relining cost totals about $3.77M. He said, “The offset savings is a little harder to quantify due to it being made of several items such as road repairs from cave ins, treatment of ground water, and interruption of service. The flow reduction average is 800,000 gallons per day which at our current rates of $3.00 per 1,000 gallons comes out to a savings of $2,406.42 per day every day 365 days a year for the next 50 years. Over the life expectancy just the reduction in treatment costs assuming no inflation would be $43,917,112. In other words it pays for itself over ten times. The break even for the expense just based on treatment cost reduction is 4.29 years.”
Mandrick added, “Due to reduction in flows we will not reach our [sewage plant] capacity until July of 2032 based on a 3.56 percent growth each year. Construction costs are variable and increased plant expansion could well be $20M or more depending on moving other city facilities away from the Wastewater treatment plant area.”
Energy savings were also achieved, and the existing plant lowered its carbon footprint of about half a million vehicle miles per year. And equally important, the ground water, once intruding into the sewer system, is now percolating into the groundwater table.
Mandrick forecasts that the improvement should last at a minimum 50 years. He said, “Most of the Historic Downtown has been completely done. Basically, all the system that was over 60 years old. The work was not that difficult because we used companies that had a great reputation in the business. This work was not done in house, we do not have the equipment nor the expertise in application of the manhole or sewer lining materials. Most of the water infiltration was occurring in our gravity sewer lines at each joint. With the gravity lines being about 8 to 10 feet deep and a water table at only 4 feet deep it is easy to see the water coming in the joints.”
Mandrick is justifiably proud of his Utility Department and grateful for the backing that he has received from the city in this endeavor. “Since 2003,” he said, “we have quietly been making improvements each and every year. These improvements while unseen and unnoticed by the public are making major news in the industry.”
Editor’s Note: Suanne Z. Thamm is a native of Chautauqua County, NY, who moved to Fernandina Beach from Alexandria,VA, in 1994. As a long time city resident and city watcher, she provides interesting insight into the many issues that impact our city. We are grateful for Suanne’s many contributions to the Fernandina Observer.
Well done, John! We are very lucky to have creative professionals in the City departments.
John Mandrick is an excellent asset to Fernandina Beach. He rarely gets acknowledged for all of the things he does for the community, both professionally as well as personally. Keep up the good work!
The guy plays a mean banjo, too!
Thanks for the kind comments.
Great work John and the Utilities Department staff. As Suanne noted this is a department that often does not get the recognition for all the work they do since most of it is not viewed by the citizens. But they are always there to respond no matter what the weather or challenges facing them. I remember the time there was a whole crew waist deep in cold marsh water with a small gator lurking in the distance as they worked to repair a broken pipe off Dade Street. Good to see the recognition both locally as well as in the industry trades.
I’m impressed that relining the manholes and sewers is so effective. I wouldn’t have thought that there was so much extra water flowing into them. It was definitely a better idea than building a new sewage treatment plant and is a good way of saving water.
Considering how John has been vilified by the press and others over the years, I suspect he might have personally tested this lining solution so nothing would get under his skin and he would continue to serve our community in a most professional way. I’m glad to see John finally getting the recognition he deserves.
The Old Town sewer conversion project is another example of John and his staff’s expert work, efficiently done. The construction teams worked tirelessly and often overtime to get our streets excavated and back to usability daily. Questions and concerns from residents were addressed promptly and professionally. Public disruption and inconvenience were minimal, considering the extensive work of installation, hookup and removal of old system hardware.