These Western Springs Sewers Fail 'Catastrophically': Official

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL – Earlier this summer, a sinkhole developed in the 4700 block of Fair Elms Avenue in Western Springs.

It resulted from a brick manhole that collapsed on one side. The village fixed it temporarily, with a permanent repair expected to cost $14,000.

This prompted a question at Monday's Village Board meeting: How many brick manholes does Western Springs have?

Matthew Supert, the village's municipal services director, said he didn't have a specific number on the top of his head.

But he said most of the brick manholes and sewers are north of 47th Street, the older part of town.

"Not only do we have brick manholes, but we do have some brick sewers in some of the larger sewers in town," Supert said. "They are great when they are great. But when they do fail, they typically fail pretty catastrophically because the whole thing can kind of come in and collapse."

Brick sewers are usually replaced with concrete or PVC, Supert said.

"Brick manholes can reach 100 years of age. Many of them are beginning to approach that age," he said. "They are aging pretty significantly."