Local leaders are looking to patch up some damage to the city’s plumbing before it becomes a larger issue for homeowners and motorists alike.

The Dowagiac City Council approved emergency repair work to sewage system underneath Johnson Street during its regular meeting Monday at City Hall. The city will hire a contractor to dig and replace the sanitary sewer, storm sewer and water line underneath the roadway.

The work is expected to cost around $70,000, according to a memo written to the council by City Manager Kevin Anderson.

The repairs come as result of the city’s inspection of the local sewage system that has taken place the last several weeks.

Public work employees have used a camera truck the city purchased with the City of Buchanan several years ago for the inspection work. While televising a stretch of line underneath Johnson Street, crews noticed a large hole, and brought to the attention of city leadership.

“We were able to spot this before this impacted homes in terms of backup or before it caused a road to collapse,” Anderson said to the council Monday. “There is that big a hole in that particular area.”

Anderson said the hole is large enough that, if not repaired, could possibly develop into a sinkhole.

Since the discovery, the city has closed Johnson Street to the public. Leaders have worked with crews from area engineering firm Wightman and Associates to develop a plan to fix the problem.

As further inspection suggested damage to other parts of the Johnson Street line, Anderson said the city and Wightman agreed that the best solution was to replace the sanitary sewer, storm sewer and water line systems. This will ensure that all utilities are in excellent working condition and that future digging in the area would be unlikely, Anderson said in his memo.

Earlier in the day, the city invited four contractors out to the site for a pre-bid meeting. Leaders are expected select a contractor for the work Wednesday.

“Certainly we will look at the lowest bidder, but if the lowest bidder cannot get there for several weeks and a higher bidder can get out there immediately, we will have the one that can come out immediately work on it,” Anderson said.