Carmel warns of 90% chance major sewer line will collapse after flooding

CARMEL, Ind. (WISH) — Officials on Monday afternoon warned of a 90% chance that a major sewer line will collapse within hours following Saturday’s collapse on Hazel Dell Parkway.

Severe flooding along the White River caused the road collapse and bridge failure over the Blue Woods Creek.

The sewer line is a critical piece of infrastructure, carrying 90% of the city’s wastewater to the treatment plant along the White River at 96th Street and Hazel Dell Road.

Nearby, officials said Monday, floodwaters have filled 75% of Martin Marietta’s Carmel Sand & Gravel facility. If the quarry fills completely with a mix of floodwater and waste, the overflow will flow into the White River.

Republican Mayor Sue Finkam said the rushing water is eroding the creek bed toward the river and deepening the channel. This erosion could create a new low spot in the river, which would force water into the quarry much faster.

Finkam said. “That’s a concern to us because we have a major sewer line that goes underneath that carries 90% of our flow to the wastewater treatment plant. So there’s a likelihood, a pretty high likelihood, that if that event happens with the water, that this will fail and we’ll have to address raw sewage going into the quarry and into the river.”

Finkam noted that while sewage could enter the river, the White River’s water is filtered and the situation will not affect the city’s drinking water.

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