Some of the sewage pipes in Timmins are as old as the city itself, dating back to its founding in the early twentieth century, and they have reached an age where they can no longer withstand more.

The City of Timmins has begun conducting inspections using closed-circuit television cameras on its 185-kilometer-long sewage system to assess the condition of its pipes.

Starting from the oldest to the newest, the city has inspected slightly less than half of its system, replacing pipes as it goes.

City Public Works Director and Chief Engineer, Pat Seguin, said, "The (sewage pipes) were originally installed by the Hollinger Mine, so some of that infrastructure is still in the ground and still functioning."

"It is likely that 50 percent of the pipe network has deteriorated somewhat and must be replaced.

Additionally, "We definitely have enough camera inspections, enough assessment to be able to put together a very good program.

We do about 13.5 kilometers of sewer lining each year." At the current repair rate, Seguin said it would likely take 10 to 15 years to replace all the old pipes, at a cost of about one million dollars per 13 kilometers of lined pipes.

After that, he said the new pipes would be cheaper to inspect, repair, and maintain. The city has commissioned Port Perry to inspect another 13 km section of pipes at a cost of about $440,000.