Rehabilitating siphons

Combined wastewater—sanitary sewage and stormwater—is carried under Onondaga Creek and under Harbor Brook by eighteen siphon crossings with a total of thirty-two pipes.

Before their rehabilitation, the pipes were decades old. When they became blocked or leaked, they would hinder the flow of wastewater and could cause overflows of wastewater to the creeks.

In 1999, Onondaga County upgraded these lines. Each pipe was inspected and relined.

Rehabilitating siphons

This approach eliminated any leaks and removed any blocks to the smooth flow of wastewater.

Rehabilitating the siphons was a crucial component in Onondaga County's comprehensive approach to improving the wastewater conveyance system—to abate the overflows from combined sewers.