Problem: Design an interceptor sewer to serve approximately 15,000 acres in the Northeast Lake County Facility Planning Area (FPA). Design challenges included routing, surveying, easement/landowner approval, permitting, and preservation of wetlands and woodlands.

Solution: RHMG developed a master plan for providing sewer service and wastewater treatment to the FPA. Based upon this master plan, RHMG designed 9.5 miles of interceptor sewer, ranging in size from 12 inches to 54 inches in diameter. Due to the presence of highly sensitive environmental issues and extremely deep sewers, approximately 1.5 miles were designed as trenchless technology (micro-tunneling).

This project represents the first large scale application of micro-tunneling in Northeastern Illinois. This project also included state-of-the-art integration of aerial photography with CAD plan and profile drawings, and one of the first uses of kinematic GPS surveying technology in North America.

The goals of constructing an all gravity flow interceptor system, allowing growth within the FPA to occur in a controlled manner in accordance with the comprehensive plan, and respecting and protecting the natural and cultural environment were all met by the Northeast Interceptor Project.

 

1: Interceptor sewer route (in red).
2: Typical wetlands and woodlands preserved. Prevalent in Mill Creek corridor (pictured in lower left)
3: GPS system used in route surveying
4: Rasterized scanned aerial photography manipulated via specialized software for use as plan and profile drawings background
5: Micro-tunneling mole equipment and installation