By Tim SchmidtRecord Managing EditorWright City is seeking qualifications from engineering firms to have a comprehensive sewer system study performed this year.The study will show how the sewer system is performing and recommend where improvements need to be made.At last Thursday’s board of aldermen meeting, members voted unanimously to proceed with soliciting a request for qualifications (RFQs).“We know we have some problem areas, as we heard (Thursday night),” said Karen Girondo, the city’s economic development director/treasurer. “We have not had a true updated (sewer) map since mid-’80s. As we all know, we’ve had a lot of growth with new subdivisions. They are not platted on one map. We also know we will be hit with new regulations from EPA in the coming years. We need to look at a lot of things.”The scope of services to be provided by engineers, if the city proceeds with the study, will be to review the city’s wastewater treatment facility, pumping stations and collection system; produce a plan and recommendations to meet regulations set by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources; and provide an updated map of the sewer system. Also, the firm will be required to recommend the best and most cost-efficient way to alleviate backups of a main sewer line and how to eliminate infiltration into the system.“We need to see where all the problems are,” Public Works Director Larry Janish said.The city anticipates setting a deadline to receive the RFQs around May 16. Officials will then review the qualifications, select a firm and negotiate a price for the study.Girondo said she doesn’t know how much the sewer study will cost, but anticipates it “will not be cheap.”A resident attending last Thursday’s meeting spoke to the board about a backup from a recent rain that left 3 to 4 inches of sewage in his basement. He claimed this was the second time a backup has occurred since he purchased the home, located on Winchester Court, around six months ago.Winchester Court is located a block east of Wildcat Drive.“It’s really a concern,” the resident said. “This time it really did me some damage.”In the meantime, Janish said city crews are reviewing some of the sewer issues affecting residents.He said crews will be doing flow calculations and smoke tests to determine if they can locate high flows and infiltration in the event of storms. He already ruled out a blockage in the sewer system.Wright City considering sewer system study