KAREN VIBERT-KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette Heavy equipment is required to pull debris from the two northern inlets of Grafius Run in Williamsport.

The City of Williamsport is looking for bidders to design an automated trash rack to aid in preventing Grafius Run from flooding.

Grafius Run is a stream that runs under the city from its north end, and lets out into the West Branch of the Susquehanna River at the Hepburn Street dam pump station. The drainage area on both branches of Grafius Run is about 1.5 miles in the city.

The two northern inlets for Grafius Run become clogged with flood debris, including wood, plastic, tires and paper — junk in general. The debris problem has been an issue for the city for decades, causing extensive flooding downstream of the inlets, even for lesser storm events.

The city public works employees man heavy equipment to pull the debris off the racks, endangering themselves and requiring emergency response any time of the day or night.

While the city has alarm systems and cameras to monitor water levels, design and construction of an automated debris removal system is anticipated to be a long-term resolution to the street flooding, according to Jon Sander, city engineer.

Over the years, costly flooding has ruined basements and covered floors in silt.

“My administration heard the community that resides in the neighborhoods impacted by Grafius Run loud and clear,” Mayor Derek Slaughter said.

“This issue has been challenging the city for decades. We are finally moving forward with solutions. We have a request for proposal out for two trash racks,” Slaughter said. “These structures collect debris to prevent flooding. Jon Sander, our city engineer, has done a tremendous job working on this project.

“We have researched several automated trash rack systems and those recommendations are included in the RFP,” he said.

“Valuable steps are being taken to remediate the flooding in this area,” he said. “Finding a remedy for Grafius Run remains a priority of my administration.”

Long-term flood-mitigation

At the north end of the city, Grafius Run has an east branch and a west branch, with inlets that are covered with standard metal trash racks.

Over the years, through upstream development, in the city and Loyalsock Township, and the after-effects of confining an open stream (in a long culvert system), Grafius Run has become problematic to the city by clogging with debris and increased water volumes due to upstream development and climate change.

Most recently, Councilwoman Liz Miele remarked on climate change adding to the cost and the complexity of ensuring properly working stormwater management, including that of the levee recertification project.

This project is expected to handle clogging with debris, Sander said.

It will do so because the large volume of water that enters the inlet structures on the north end of the city during storm events cannot be successfully contained within the underground culvert system. These culvert systems appear to not have the capacity to convey these peak storms and/or debris.

The city is soliciting bids for design and project bidding services related to designing two automated trash rack systems to be retrofitted on the existing racks, or installed just upstream of the existing racks.

The city has found a few automated trash rack systems that looked promising: Duperon, International Water Screens and Atlas Polar, as examples, Sander noted.

Systems that vertically remove flood debris, and carry it horizontally to bank locations are preferred. The city has several million dollars set aside for this work (and design), much of it American Rescue Plan funds.

Moreover, the city has extensive hydrologic and hydraulic design information that the selected firm could use, if needed.

What will be

the design tasks?

The process will include evaluating the existing site layout, topography and existing land use to determine the best location and layout of the trash racks.

Pursuing potential acquisition or easements and forming access drives are realistic possibilities, city officials said.

A site topographic (mapping) survey will be required as part of this design.

Work with city officials to determine what automated trash rack system will best suit its needs, Sander said, as will working with the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for any DEP potential permitting that may be required.

Finally, to prepare formal construction plans, specifications and a cost estimate for the construction of the project and bid the project on behalf of the city or give the project to the city to bid itself.

The city will require this project to be bid on PennBid.