Meridian weighs pump rental, purchase as emergency order ends

Published 12:19 pm Thursday, January 15, 2026

The city of Meridian is looking at options for renting or purchasing pumps for a sewer bypass as an emergency order in place for more than two years comes to an end.

In January 2023, city officials learned a sewer pipe running under Sowashee Creek off of Dale Drive had failed, and issued an emergency order to establish a bypass while a project to repair the problem was designed. The issue has been further complicated by railroad tracks, which will need to be bored under for a permanent fix.

The City Council on Jan. 6 voted to approve a demand payment to Hydra Service for renting the pumps that are keeping wastewater flowing through the bypass.

Public Works Director David Hodge said emergency orders last for one year, and the city had to stop paying Hydra Service when the order expired. Payment of the demand letter will be followed up with an extension of the order at the next council meeting, he said.

Hodge said the project is in the design phase now, and once awarded, it will be the contractor’s responsibility to maintain the bypass while work is underway.

“Once we bid it out, the contractor will be in charge of all the rentals,” he said.

Although city officials had previously discussed extending the emergency order for another year, City Attorney Will Simmons advised council members on Tuesday against that action. Operating under emergency orders long term is questionable, he said, and the city is looking at at least another year of pump rental on top of the two years already passed.

Simmons said the City Council will have an order at its next meeting to extend the emergency order another 60 days. That will give the city enough time to find a vendor and decide if it is more cost effective to continue renting or purchase the bypass pumps.