The City of Monterey will begin repairing and replacing its aging sewer system next week [2/15/16]. The citywide project will rehabilitate seven miles of sewer pipes and more than 500 sewer manholes located in streets and easements throughout the City. A rehabilitated sewer system will prevent sewer leaks and spills that could harm our quality of life, local economy and the pristine waters of the Monterey Bay.
            The work will start at the top of New Monterey and proceed through the neighborhood down to Cannery Row, then head toward downtown and areas further east. During the project, residents can expect to see some on-street parking restrictions, heavy equipment, temporary detours, possible lane or street closures, and harmless steam. Residents also may see work completed intermittently, i.e. potholing utilities, surveying, and assessing manholes, and crews returning at a later time to repair the sewers. The City and the construction contractor will notify residents and businesses in advance of sewer repairs.
Maps with the locations of manhole and sewer repairs are available on the web at www.monterey.org/fixingsewers.  Sewer repairs may involve trenching, pipe bursting, or pipe lining. These processes are weather dependent and require dry ground to be completed.
This is the third phase of a major program to rehabilitate the city’s sewer system. The City has already completed a rehabilitation project on all seven sewer lift stations and repaired other small segments of sewer pipe. Funding for the $16 million program comes from a low-interest state loan.