Sunman to use $500-K in READI funds for sewer extension project

(From left to right) Gary Norman with Ripley County Economic Development; Mary McCarty with the Southeastern Indiana Regional Planning Commission; Sunman Town Board member Carol Eckstein; Sunman Clerk-Treasurer Cheryl Taylor, and Perry Cassidy with Sunman Utilities. (Provided Photo)

(Sunman, IN) – The Town of Sunman will use $500,000 in READI funds for a planned sewer extension project that officials say will boost development in the area.

The proposed project includes the construction of a sanitary sewer lift station at the intersection of State Road 101 and State Road 46, just south of I-74.

Southeast Indiana READI (SEI READI) says the location was chosen to most efficiently serve existing development and provide sewers for development around the I-74/State Road 101 interchange.

Gravity sewer could be extended from this lift station to the north, south, east, and west.

Officials say an additional lift station may be required in the future to serve development on the north side of I-74.

Plans call for the lift station to be installed with two pumps, with one serving as a backup.

Two parallel force mains will be installed for the initial phase of construction.

The six-inch force main would provide for a long-term capacity of up to 300 Equivalent Dwelling Units (EDUs, or 1 EDU = 310 gallons per day wastewater flow per house).

A two-inch force main will be installed parallel to the six-inch force main in order to serve short-term needs.

Officials say there s not currently enough potential flow for good operation of a six-inch force main.

The smaller two-inch force main will better meet short-term needs and provide for better overall operation.

SEI READI and the Southeastern Indiana Regional Planning Commission recently presented a ceremonial check to town officials signifying funding for the project (pictured).