FARMINGTON -- An old corrugated metal pipe that leads to the Sandy River from Front Street and under the University of Maine at Farmington ball fields has long been a key part of the extensive underground stormwater drainage system downtown.

Now, sections of the 1,400-foot long, 42-inch diameter pipe are collapsing, forcing storm water to back up and overflow catch basins and flood streets. One vulnerable area is on Front Street at the entrance to Narrow Gauge Square. Last summer, a sink-hole appeared that required three truckloads of gravel to patch it temporarily.

A 30-foot offshoot pipe that extends 30 feet from Front Street and connects to an old granite box-drain system under My Crop, Paper, Scissor Store. That old system ties in with a network of pipes that drain rain water from surrounding parking lots and roof and cellar drains, Town Manager Richard Davis told selectmen this week.

Dirigo Engineering in Fairfield estimates it will cost nearly $200,000 to replace the 1,400-foot system under the playing fields with 48-inch diameter, modern, high-density polyethylene pipe. That price projection does not include the 30-foot length of pipe needed on Front Street, Davis said.

In 2006, the town spent $250,000 to replace the 18-year-old aluminum drainage pipe system that stretched from High Street and Broadway west to Front Street and into the parking lot by the Narrow Gauge theater.

The work was funded by the town's undesignated fund balance account, but now, due to the drop in revenues and a sluggish economy, the fund balance's annual growth has lagged.

"We don't have that luxury now," Davis said.

Public Works Director Denis Castonguay will be seeking estimates from contractors on replacing only the collapsed sections of pipe. Davis said the cost could possibly be included in the public works budget for 2010.

Betty Jespersen -- 778-6991

bjespersen@centralmaine.com