SANDPOINT — The Sandpoint City Council unanimously approved a project Wednesday to replace 45 failing sewer lateral connections throughout the city, a move expected to reduce inflow and infiltration into the wastewater treatment plant, said Public Works Director Holly Ellis. 

Inflow occurs when stormwater enters the city's sewer collection system from above-ground sources, such as roof runoffs and storm cross connections.  Infiltration occurs when groundwater enters the sewer collection system via leaky pipes, said Ellis. 

"Everything that enters our sewer collection system goes to our wastewater treatment plant," said Ellis, adding that in during rain and snow events, flows will increase tenfold. 

Footage taken last January of the sewer collection system showed a significant amount of groundwater and stormwater infiltrating into the system's main line due to a failing lateral connection, Ellis told council members. 

"What this project is aiming to replace is that connection," said Ellis. 

The $155,200 project is slated to begin this fall and excludes repairs on private property or private sewer laterals. It is also within the city's 2026 fiscal budget and will use money from the city's sewer fund. 

With over 4,000 sewer lateral connections within the sewer collection system, the project would not repair every connection in the city, said Ellis. 

"This would just be the start, and there's a lot of work to go," said Ellis. 

Mayor Jeremy Grimm said the project was conducive toward the city's goal of reducing inflow and infiltration into the plant, saying the city has done an "extensive amount of work" to reduce inflow and infiltration, spending roughly $11 million over the past 15 years on improvements. 

"It's been ongoing for over a decade to reduce our [inflow and infiltration] through programs like this," said Grimm. 

Councilor Kyle Schreiber said that although the project would address infiltration, inflow often happens on private property. 

"It seems to me that that'd be a good idea, a good next step, to address those sources of water coming into our system," said Scheiber. 

Grimm said that to address inflow occurring on private property, a government official would need to enter that property and inspect it. 

"I can only imagine the public response if we said we were going to take that route," said Grimm. "I don't think it'd be too favorable." 

However, Grimm said that educating property owners remains an option, especially as the city begins construction on a wastewater treatment plant.