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New Bern, North Carolina

In 2003 New Bern, North Carolina, annexed a community with about 2,000 homes. Part of the annexation agreement required the city to install a new sewer collection system to replace the many septic systems in the area. The estimated cost of a gravity system: $17 million. The cost for a modern vacuum system by AIRVAC: about $9 million.

New Bern had installed its first vacuum sewer system more than 10 years earlier. That system, which served more than 4,000 homes, was a proven model of cost-efficiency and low maintenance.

“We spend about 10 minutes a day at each of our vacuum stations, just checking on small maintenance details,” said Chuck Adams, Operations Manager for the City of New Bern. “We have virtually no problems with our vacuum sewers.”

AIRVAC vacuum sewers are closed systems. If a leak should occur, it can be located quickly and repaired easily. Should this happen, air is sucked in rather than sewage leaking out, so there is never a problem with infiltration, exfiltration or soil voids. Also, there are no odors or human contact with sewage, creating a safer and more pleasant work environment for public works employees.

The choice for New Bern was crystal clear; vacuum sewers were obviously the better solution for their sewer needs.

This article appeared in the October, 2003 issue of CE News. If you would like to read the entire story as it appeared in the magazine, you can download a pdf, or you may request hard copies.

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