ECWCD Works on
Replacing Failing Infrastructure

East County Water Control District (ECWCD) now has new cost saving measures in places for fixing failing infrastructure in Lehigh Acres.

The district has more than 370 culverts in its system, many of which have been in place since the 1960’s. The older culverts were constructed of corrugated metal pipe that have been slowly failing. The last metal culvert in the system was put in place around 1991 and under the best of conditions according to David E. Lindsay, the ECWCD Manager they typically last between 30-40 years

According Lindsay, when a culvert totally fails, there is a potential for flooding, property damage, or collapse which could lead to wrecks causing injuries or even loss of life.

According to the new District in house plans three-man crew to replace corrugated metal pipe culverts with concrete culverts that have an anticipated lifespan nearly 100 years. These year marks the fourth year of the District’s in-house, culvert replacement project program.

The District in previous years have replaced 51 of the deteriorated corrugated metal pipe culverts utilizing contractors; to the cost of which cost the taxpayers approximately $75,000 per culvert.

According internal data by the district, by completing the replacement projects in-house, saves the District and taxpayers approximately $25,000 per culvert.

According to Lindsay, in the next 20 years the District will need to replace upwards of 250 culverts.