CUMBERLAND — A $300,000 sewer system repair in Cumberland is set to begin Monday.

According to Vivian Giles, the county administrator and attorney, the repairs will be conducted by Lyttle Utilities and county utilities staff.

Residents and sewer customers will see the contractor’s employees working along the line, she said.

“The main objective is to repair manholes and to also raise manholes,” Giles said. She said that over time, the manholes sink into the dirt, which causes collection of rain and groundwater in the system. “We were getting these really astronomical bills from the Town of Farmville because [of] all the water going to the Town of Farmville through the sewer system.”

Some of the manholes had been damaged and broken as well, she said. The ones most impacted were the larger ones near county pump stations.

Giles said that according to county code, damaging and mowing over top of manholes could result in a misdemeanor charge. Customers can also be billed for repairs, she said.

“Citizens can call the utilities department at (804) 492-9267 with questions or any information about manholes that are in need of repair,” she said.

Giles estimated the project to cost between $300,000 and $350,000.

The repairs are expected to conclude at the end of this year to the system which spans from Bear Creek Lake State Park along U.S. Route 60 and Route 45 to the Town of Farmville.