This map shows the full scope of Greenwood’s Western Regional Interceptor project.
Submitted map from the city of Greenwood
Greenwood’s $62.2 million dollar effort to upgrade the sewer system on the city’s westside is essentially complete after more than three years of work.
The Western Regional Interceptor project is substantially complete, with minor repair and restoration work left to complete as weather allows, said Mark St. John, city engineer. The landscape restoration work is not expected to be resolved until another growing season occurs, said Kevin Steinmetz, capital projects manager.
Work crews replaced 10 miles of Greenwood’s older sewer pipelines and lift stations in White River Township, between State Road 135 and State Road 37 for the project. The line connects to Indianapolis sewers across County Line Road.
Seventeen lift stations — pumps that allow water to be moved to a higher elevation — were removed as part of the project. Officials say this will make the system more resilient, will save thousands of dollars, and has removed eyesores that can produce unpleasant odors.
“By taking these lift stations offline, everything is now gravity-fed,” Mayor Mark Myers said. “It will improve the flow, and there will be fewer problems with backups, with any type of issues.”
The project was also required for federal environmental compliance, which mandates the elimination of sanitary sewer overflows and backups, which have been reported in Greenwood.
City officials say the interceptor is the largest capital project in Greenwood’s history. Myers is relieved to see the project finally reach completion.
“We’re very happy that this project is done and over with,” Myers said.
Construction was separated into two phases, with the first beginning in the summer of 2019 and the second in 2020. To pay for the work, the Greenwood City Council, in 2016, approved raising sewer rates from 2017 to 2020. Rates increased by 49% over the course of four years.
Greenwood operates the largest sanitary district in Johnson County. The project will increase sewage capacity and accommodate further development in an already booming area of the county, while preparing for further growth following Interstate 69 construction, officials said.
The western regional interceptor will channel as many as 7 to 9 million gallons of water a day away from the Pleasant Run Interceptor, the city’s website says. The new pipeline alleviates capacity issues in the city’s sewer system on the west side of the city, as well as in central and Old Town Greenwood.
The city has two other sewer interceptors: one on the east side and the original interceptor that follows Pleasant Run Creek through the city and connects to pipes in Indianapolis, Steinmetz said earlier this year.
