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ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC WORKS
 North Lincoln Avenue Reconstruction, Phase 3With the end of school, this $260,000+ project from E. Monroe to E. Jackson is underway. Completion of the project is anticipated by the end of July, dependent on weather. Thank you for your patience as we complete this important project.
Obernuefemann and State Street Roundabout
Work on the new roundabout at the intersection of State Street and Obernuefemann Road began in late May. In order to provide for the safety of the workers and the motoring public, the intersection was fully closed to traffic in early June. The anticipated completion date for the project is July 31, dependent on weather.
2008 Pavement Overlay Program
The overlay program for 2008 is complete. Streets included in this year’s overlay program include: Aladar, Amy, Affirm, Griffin Gate, Thomas, Nancy, Colleen, Donna, Walnut, Mill, Sunnyside, Center Grove, Countryside, Hillcrest, Wintergreen, Rain Hollow, Park Entrance, Edna, Agnes, Annice, Lakewood, Melissa, Shoreline, East Jefferson, Red Fox Trail, Amberleaf, Blackberry, Plum Tree, Woodland Court, Fairwood Hills, Rutherford Ridge, and Tetherwood.
2008 Micro-Surfacing Program
In addition to the overlay program, micro-surfacing (a chipless seal coat) will be applied to portions of the following streets: Seven Hills Road, Coachlight, Thornbury, Main, Dustin, Buckley, Fieldpoint, Alexander, Springhill, Wheatfield, Shadow Ridge, Illini, Catalpa, and Elisabeth. The coating is a mixture of sand, asphalt emulsion, Portland cement, water, and resins. This type of coating was applied to Smiley Street several years ago along the edge of OTHS. While not as durable as an overlay, it does economically extend the life of the underlying pavement. The City does not have the funding to keep every roadway pristine. Overlay, micro-surfacing, and reconstruction are the options available to long term road maintenance. We continually play a balancing
act to keep all roads serviceable within the limits of our budget.
 Water System Improvements In response to the January 25, 2006, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) violation notice to the City, we have completed designs for two one-million gallon elevated storage tanks and a new pump station. This new infrastructure will allow us to provide both sufficient pumping capacity as well as storage capacity. Construction of the new $985,000 booster pump station, which is located on the west side of Fairview Heights along St. Clair Avenue, is about 50% complete. The new pump station is funded by a low interest loan from the IEPA Water Infrastructure Fund. The construction of the two one-million gallon elevated water storage tanks, at a cost of $5.3 million, is about to begin. One of the new tanks will be located along Pausch Road, north of the Bluffs at
Ogles Creek subdivision. The second tank will be located across from Fulton Junior High School on Kyle Road.
2008 Concrete Repair Program
Numerous repairs will be made to sidewalks, streets, and drainage structures throughout the City this summer. Please be alert when walking and driving in areas where these repairs are occurring. Workers and barricades will be in many different locations during the day. In addition to sidewalk repair, about 1,000 feet of new sidewalk will be constructed along West State and Seven Hills Road.
Wastewater Treatment Plant Capital Improvements
In response to an Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) violation notice, the City has installed two new power generators at the Reider Road wastewater treatment plant. The new 400 kilo-watt generator will be used to power the terminal lift that lifts wastewater into the plant from the trunk mains when a power outage occurs. In addition, the new 900 kilo-watt generator will power the plant during a power outage. Previously, AmerenIP had an electrical feed that could provide service to the lift station and plant if the primary feed was disabled, but that is no longer the case.
O’Fallon Sanitary Sewer System
The good news continues to be that our wastewater treatment plant operates relatively efficiently and meets all environmental requirements. The bad news is that the sanitary system, as a whole, operated in the red during the past fiscal year. As a consequence, maintenance and repair issues continue to pile up. For example, the sewer trunk mains that transport sewage to the wastewater treatment plant were installed in 1968. Very little work has been done to maintain them since their installation.
The City is currently in the midst of an extensive study to determine what is needed to remedy the situation.
Protect Drinking Water from Contamination by Providing Backflow Prevention
Each day the O’Fallon Water Division provides four to six million gallons of purified water to our customers in O’Fallon and Fairview Heights. Before being pumped to your home or business, this water is routinely tested to ensure it meets all USEPA drinking water standards. In spite of that, drinking water can be placed at risk by contaminants that “backflow” into the water system.
What is backflow?
Backflow occurs when water flows backwards through your water pipes. Backflow can be caused when a drop in pressure occurs in the incoming water main due to main breaks or heavy consumption by firefighters battling a fire. This causes the pressure in the pipes of residential or commercial buildings to become greater than that of the main. If your water pipes are connected to a source of contamination when backflow occurs, contaminants from that source can be siphoned into the community’s drinking water. To protect the drinking water supply from backflow-related health hazards, the Illinois Plumbing Code requires backflow prevention devices to be installed on all existing properties where there is either a temporary or permanent connection to a pollution source.
What is considered a source of pollution?
Any direct connection of your home or business drinking water system to a source of pollution has the potential to create a health hazard if backflow occurs. Examples of potential pollution sources include: fire protection systems, lawn irrigation systems, restaurant food prep areas, chemical processing and manufacturing operations, and medical and dental equipment that is directly connected to a water system.
Obviously, people who consume drinking water that has been accidentally mixed with chemicals or bacteria from any source could become seriously ill. Backflow prevention devices can help prevent contaminated water from being accidentally mixed with drinking water.
Note: The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) monitors the City of O’Fallon’s backflow program compliance with the Illinois Plumbing Code. That is why many individuals in the community receive reminders from the City that yearly testing of their backflow device is required.
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