MERRILLVILLE | As the Merrillville Conservancy District finishes maintaining sewer lines in one subdivision, it is planning for the next set of lines it will inspect.

The sewer district has nearly completed inspecting, cleaning and repairing lines in the Glenwood subdivision, and still needs to repair a manhole in the area, said Chuck Stojakovich, MCD district coordinator.

The subdivision north of 61st Avenue off Liverpool Road is in Hobart, but still in MCD's jurisdiction. The sewer district began examining the lines after residents complained about flooding. Stojakovich thinks problems were caused by stormwater infiltrating the system.

He estimated repairs in the Glenwood subdivision to cost more than $40,000.

Stojakovich anticipates examining lines in Merrillville's Turkey Creek subdivision when workers finish in the Glenwood area. Examinations can reveal root problems in sewer lines.

Stojakovich works closely with MCD's board of directors, which is taking an aggressive approach to maintaining sewer lines, said Ed Sperka, the board's chairman.

"We run a hell of a program," he said.

Stojakovich's main goal is to have a maintenance program in which all the district's sewers would be inspected each year.

He said it can be a difficult task to accomplish because of weather-related issues, but noted "if it's cold, you can still go inspect sewers."