Work to repair a break in Osawatomie’s main sewer line should be completed in the next few days. The main sewer line is buried under the Marais des Cygnes River, which has made repairs challenging and expensive. On Friday, Interim City Manager Mike Smith said they have to bore under the river and replace the line. The work should be wrapped up this week.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment issued an advisory back on Thursday, October 17 for the Marais des Cygnes River at Osawatomie north of the Mill Street Bridge and east of U.S. Highway 169 and Main Street because of the line break. The advisory noted bacteria and other pollutant levels may be potentially elevated in the Marais des Cygnes River and neighboring tributaries because of the break. The advisory encouraged people who live or have activities in the vicinity to not enter the water or allow children or pets to go into the water.
Officials stress that the break did not affect the city’s drinking water supply. The estimated cost to repair the line is $300,000.
