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Darien Doubles Sewer Budget for Pipe Repairs, Flood Mitigation
https://ctexaminer.com/2023/11/14/darien-doubles-sewer-budget-for-pipe-repairs-flood-mitigation/
DARIEN – Officials voted Monday to double the town budget for sewer system improvements — to $4.6 million — in an effort to combat flooding and lower an annual payment to Stamford.
Darien’s sewer system runs along 81 miles of the town, and flows over to the Stamford Water Pollution Control Facility for treatment. But with an increase in flooding during storms and “questionable” pipe quality, Department of Public Works Superintendent Ed Gentile went before the Board of Selectmen on Monday to request an additional $2.3 million for phases two and three of the town’s sewer project.
“Right now, I’m pretty much solvent at zero,” Gentile said of his remaining budget.
In October 2020, town bodies approved an original $2.3 million appropriation for the Gentile’s sanitary sewer system project. He said the department has completed phase one – inspecting the system, hiring an engineer and repairing some of the broken pipes – and was starting the second phase when he realized he was over budget.
“We’re projected to be at a total of $2.9 million,” Gentile said. “We’re about $580,000 over.”