Teamwork saves $1.6 million on major wastewater project
This summer, the Environmental Utilities team in Roseville completed a complex and high-stakes repair project at the Dry Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant, saving the community more than $1.6 million. When a massive 66-inch underground pipe and its 35-year-old valve began to fail, the city initially received a contractor bid for over $2.2 million—double the anticipated cost. Instead of outsourcing the job, city crews built a powerful temporary bypass system capable of diverting 80 million gallons of wastewater over 10 days, allowing them to safely repair, clean and reline the pipe and replace the valve themselves. Their efforts not only ensured the system’s continued operation but also extended the infrastructure’s lifespan for decades.
The project’s success highlighted the city’s strong leadership, technical expertise and collaborative spirit. Team members stepped into new roles, worked around the clock and coordinated every step of the process to deliver the repairs safely and efficiently for just over $500,000. Beyond the significant financial savings, the project reinforced confidence in the city’s ability to handle large-scale infrastructure challenges internally. It stands as a model of innovation, teamwork and pride—demonstrating that when skilled professionals combine creativity with determination, even the toughest public works challenges can become long-term community victories.
