Blue Heron Sewer Rehabilitation Project

The Blue Heron Sewer Line, located in the Blue Heron neighborhood, was built in 1962. A recent inspection of the pipe found the system is reaching the end of its useful life and is due for rehabilitation or replacement.

The Blue Heron Sewer Project will rehabilitate and replace the sewer lines in Cardinal Drive and in the Blue Heron Canal, to extend their life and reduce infiltration and inflow (I/I) reaching the Lake Oswego Interceptor Sewer.

To minimize impacts and apply the Council's dig-once philosophy, construction on this project will also incorporate replacing the stormwater culvert pipeline located on Blue Heron Road at the intersection of South Shore Road. For more information about that project, visit the project webpage.

Project Scope

The work within Blue Heron canal will include cured in place pipe (CIPP) liners and High-density polyethylene (HDPE) replacement of the mainline as well as installing new cleanouts and HDPE laterals.

• Replace existing 883-foot sewer main with 12-inch new pipe
• CIPP line 575 feet of 12-inch sewer main
• Install approximately 2,500 linear feet of 6-inch sewer lateral replacements (the pipe that connects an individual home or business to the main sewer line) and 36 new cleanouts (service line access points) 
• Several new manholes 

The work along Cardinal Drive will include installing CIPP lining into the sewer mains and laterals and add new cleanouts at the property line.

• 2,200 feet of 8-inch, 885 feet of 10-inch, and 160 feet of 12-inch CIPP liner
• Manhole rehabilitation and replacement
• Approximately 1,500 linear feet of 6-inch lateral liner
• Install 50 new cleanouts at the property line

Rehab Methods - Cured in Place Pipe

The sewer main line will be rehabilitated using a method called cured in place pipe (CIPP). For this method, a flexible fabric liner, filled with resin, is typically inserted into the existing pipe segments through an existing manhole.  Once the liner is in place the liner is expanded to the shape of the pipe and the resin is cured using an ultraviolet or thermal curing process. The liner essentially forms a smooth surface inside the existing pipe, restoring it to near-new condition.

The advantages of this method include limited excavation which minimizes construction cost and impacts to the community during construction.

Schedule

The construction period is expected to take place between summer 2023 to early 2024. Construction of the canal portion is planned to occur during the planned lake drawdown in fall 2023.

Project Updates: 

June 6, 2023

A contractor was hired in early 2023. Construction of the pipeline on Cardinal Drive is expected to take place in late July or early August 2023 and continue through early fall. More information will be provided shortly. 

October 26, 2022

As part of this project, a service line access point (cleanout) will be installed on the City-owned portion of each sewer lateral (the pipe that connects an individual home or business to the main sewer line). The cleanout is expected to be located in the sidewalk or behind the sidewalk at the right-of-way/property line.

On November 2 and 4, 2022, members of the project team will be in the project area to locate cleanouts in the field.

October 4, 2022

City Council approved an alternative contract method for construction procurement using a CM/GC method. Here is a link to the council report and presentation.  

August 2022

This summer, the project team conducted a geotechnical soil exploration in the Blue Heron canal to help with finalizing design plans for the project. The work was performed from a barge that was set up in the canal. Soil testing was performed at 30 different locations. 

July 21, 2021

A team from Carollo Engineers, AKS Engineers, and ProPipe will be locating sanitary sewer laterals along Cardinal Drive, Wren Court, Cedar Road, Blue Heron Road, and Blue Heron Drive.

While many of the laterals connect to sewer mains in the public right-of-way, homes with sewer laterals draining toward the sewer main in Blue Heron Bay will have lateral located at the sea wall. For those properties, Carollo Engineers will be reaching out to property owners directly to schedule the lateral locate. Where there is exterior access to the sewer cleanout, representatives from ProPipe will need to access the back yard. Where outside access does not exist, ProPipe will need to access a basement or floor drain inside the home.

This work is expected to take place between August 9, 2021 and September 3, 2021.