By AMY PUGSLEY FRASER / City Hall Reporter

A Dartmouth councillor is questioning the life expectancy of city sewer pipes that were supposed to last forever.

"We're finding out that forever is about 50 years," Coun. Jim Smith (Albro Lake-Harbourview) said Monday.

Back in the 1950s, special non-corrosive pipes were used to replace worn sewer lines.
"They are like a composite design," he said of the older style, noting the material was used before the introduction of PVC plastic piping.

His district has experienced a number of sewer pipe failings in the recent months and residents are concerned.

"In my area, there are a large number of streets that have that (non-corrosive) piping in it," he said, listing Russell and Chappell streets as a few examples.

"It all seems to be starting to fail more and more every year," the councillor said.
"For unknown reasons, they are just collapsing."

He'd like to know how many kilometres of the non-corrosive pipes lie underneath city streets.
"I'm curious to know how much of this piping was installed back then, if it's just in Dartmouth or if it's over in Halifax as well."

When sewer lines break, the city is responsible for the section from the main line to the property line. The homeowner picks up the tab from the property line to their house.

If city tree roots are the cause of the problem, then the cost is sometimes handled by the municipality, he said.

The councillor would like staff to look into the possibility of assisting homeowners with the replacement cost.

He'll ask for council's support at their meeting tonight.