Currently, a pipeline extending from south of Eighth Street and east of Shawnee Street is old, too flat, too small and does not have enough slope or capacity, according to Chris Eppley, city administrator.

The current pipeline is not adequate for new housing developments and future subdivisions to feed off the same line.

The city plans to add a new pipeline, parallel to an existing one, which would extend from Eighth Street to Sixth Street.

This new pipeline would then intercept the previous line at about Eighth Street. Everything south of Eighth would feed through the new line.

The new line would be larger and have a different angle so it could effectively carry waste to the sewer plant.

Because the line between Eighth and Sixth streets is inefficient, sewage sometimes backs up into resident’s homes.

The cost of this project would be around $300,000, Eppley said. This is where the KDHE revolving loan fund comes into play.

The city has to proceed through a detailed application process to obtain the loan, which carries a 3.3 percent interest rate.

“It is the most complex application I have worked on in my entire career,” Eppley said.

Last year, Tonganoxie barely missed receiving the loan. Eppley is confident about this year. He said that this year the city was right in the loop to receive it.