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The Albert Lea City Council voted Monday to authorize the emergency repair of the sanitary sewer force main that broke last month due to excessive rain, leading to the discharge of untreated wastewater into an open field.

A temporary dam has been in place at the site, along South Shore Drive, that carries wastewater from Albert Lea to its treatment plant since the day of the break on June 23. At that time city staff and Jensen Excavating worked overnight to contain the wastewater and allow it to continue to the city’s wastewater treatment plant. The Public Works Department since then has been designing a repair and getting quotes for equipment and construction of the permanent repairs.

Albert Lea Public Works Director Steven Jahnke said he was afraid to wait on officially going out for bids — which could take several weeks if not longer — and said he didn’t feel like they had time to do so in the event of another heavy rain.

Jahnke said in 2010 the city conducted an extensive look at the pipe in that area and at that time found areas that were subject to corrosion. The city replaced a large section of pipe in 2010, and right where the new pipe met the old part is where there was the break.

He said the city’s wastewater treatment plant typically processes 2 to 3 million gallons of wastewater a day, but on June 23 that number was up to 20 million gallons.

While the temporary fix has held up, he said he is worried about the city receiving another heavy rain.

“We really do not want to waste anymore time,” he said.

Jahnke said staff are estimating the repair to cost anywhere from $315,000 to $825,000, though he thinks it will likely be below $500,000.

The city will be seeking FEMA reimbursement for the project, though that is not guaranteed.