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Sarasota News Leader December 20, 2013 Page 34 This means the already excavated pits containing the pumps must be lowered. "We're going to have to go down about 7 feet deeper," he added. The capacity of the already purchased pumps can cope with operating 7 feet below their original design grade, noted Garland. Lowering the existing "influent structures," as they are called, and boring the microtunnel at an appropriate depth is estimated to cost $4.2 million, Garland said. The "double-bore inverted siphon" system estimate was $4.6 million to $5.2 million — plus the siphon design would necessitate quarterly maintenance of odor-control devices because siphons operate with atmospheric pressure and must be open to the air. The microtunnel is self-flushing and powered by gravity. Garland excluded what he called "common costs," which would be incurred by either system. For example, reclaimed water will be offered to residents along Alta Vista and Pomelo streets for use in their yards, Osprey Avenue will be resurfaced, sidewalks will be restored and other smaller projects will be accomplished. "Phase One was about 'Can it work?' and 'How can it work?'" said Garland. The next phase is designing the system and figuring out the full-cost estimates. "I already have a list of deficiencies and improvements," he added. Robert Garland is vice president of McKim & Creed. Photo by Stan Zimmerman A report last year by Andrew Robinson of Boregis Ltd. of the United Kingdom did a top-to-bottom review of the AECOM effort as part of an ongoing lawsuit between the company and the city over the failed $12.5 million project. The report found Assuming the city is satisfied with McKim & Creed's AECOM had no experience in microtunneling. work after Phase Two, the company could oversee Instead, the company relied on the expertise of a Palmetto company, Huxted Tunneling. % the actual construction. QUICK TIP Share stories by clicking the icon in the menubar and choosing to share via e-mail, post to Facebook or Twitter, or many other sharing options.