Press Release - Sewer Siphon Update 7/13/23

Exeter, NH - July 13th, 2023: On Wednesday, July 12th , work began on pulling the first of two 12-inch sewer siphon barrels through the 18-inch pilot hole successfully drilled earlier this month. During the pulling of the pipe under the Squamscott River bed, in the direction to the Mills from Swasey Parkway, the equipment used to pull the pipe under the river bed experienced a lost connection with the siphon pipe approximately 240 feet into the hole. It is believed the separation may have occurred with a piece of the equipment being used to pull the pipe through the pilot hole.

Work has currently stopped on site as contractor N. Granese and Sons, subcontractor ECI, and engineers Wright-Pierce work on a solution to this issue. It is expected to be resolved, with a delay in the completed siphon pipe pull likely to be approximately 3 weeks. A conductor barrel will be installed on the Swasey Parkway side to assist with the removal process and to preserve access to the completed 18-inch bore hole. Work will continue on site on Monday, July 17th , with the installation of the conductor barrel around the pipe to reconnect the pulley system and continue pulling the 12-inch siphon under the river toward the Mills. The drill team expects to use a pneumatic hammer to push the conductor barrel system in place, which may cause increased noise in the surrounding area while in use. Once the conductor barrel is in place, the drill team will remove the siphon pipe from the hole, repair the connection, and begin the pulling process again.

The Town continues to be under a lump sum fixed price contract for this work, meaning there will be no additional cost to the Town while this is resolved.

The site is currently being cleaned up for the weekend festivities planned for the Parkway. The Town
will continue to keep residents updated on the project as progress continues.

Contact: Russ Dean, Exeter Town Manager, rdean@exeternh.gov, 603-778-0591

For more information about the project, visit the Public Works page.