The city is set to begin a $10.7 million sewer rehabilitation project in Kuli'ou'ou in early February, setting in motion 17 months of construction, some of which will occur at night.

The work will take place entirely on residential streets, and residents should be prepared for noise, said Wes Yokoyama, construction branch head for the city Department of Design and Construction's Wastewater Division.

"It's not really loud, but there is some noise from the machinery," Yokoyama said.

The city will fix or replace 16,930 feet of old, deteriorated or undersized sewer lines. Aging sewer lines can lead to leaks and breaks; a 12-inch water main broke in the neighborhood on Thursday, disrupting traffic.

Yokoyama estimated that the last sewer rehabilitation in Kuli'ou'ou took place nearly a decade ago.

About 7 percent of the existing pipe will be replaced and the rest will be lined with cured-in-place pipe to reduce infiltration and leaks in the system. The pipe will be installed using a trenchless method, which requires less digging and is less intrusive to traffic than traditional repair methods.

The cured-in-place pipe must be heated and cooled slowly without interruption, meaning crews must work on the installation through the night.

The city is applying for a noise variance with the state Department of Health, which can later ask the contractor to modify the construction or impose further restrictions if it receives complaints from the community.

Bob Chuck, chairman of the Kuli'ou'ou-Kalani Iki Neighborhood Board, said residents have been generally accepting of the project so far. The sewer rehabilitation was originally scheduled to begin in October, but was delayed because of permitting issues.

"Nobody brought up any concerns," Chuck said. "Maybe (they will) when the construction starts."