Lower Šančiai Collector (Fragment of Kaunas Sewerage Collector)

Address: Kauno m. sav., Kauno m.,Mažeikių g.; A. Juozapavičiaus pr.; Siūlų g.

Construction of Kaunas sewerage and water supply systems began in 1924. The works were headed by engineer Steponas Kairys. City’s sewerage was designed having in mind large potential for development of Kaunas as the temporary capital (it was estimated that over the next 20 years city’s population would grow to 200,000). According to the draft at that time, complete sewerage systems were only expected to be built in the Old Town and the new part of the city. Besides the Old Town sewerage, one of the largest sewerage collectors was in Lower Šančiai, under Mažeikiai Street. During the interwar period this collector was used to drain rainwater which collected in the middle of Lower Šančiai in a valley between High Šančiai and Nemunas hill. The water that accumulated there often flooded former Šmitai Brothers workshops, company Metal and yards of residents.

The main channel of Lower Šančiai Collector was laid in a straight line from Juozapavičius Avenue to Nemunas. Collector walls and arch was made of red brickwork. The channel is 450 m long and 4–9 m deep and there is an industrial channel laid below it. From Juozapavičius Avenue the channel splits into two branches: one goes under Juozapavičius Avenue, the other — under Siūlai Street. The main channel is 1.8 m high and around 2 m wide at the bottom; the collector under Siūlai Street is 1.25 m high and around 1.5 m wide. At the bottom of the channel there is a separate furrow for collecting minor rainwater flow and in the walls there are rainwater collection holes. Under the main channel there is an industrial sewerage, whose maintenance is carried out via brick walls covered with concrete lids. At the end of the main channel, near Nemunas, there are two thresholds each 1–1.5 metres high.

Renata Kilinskaitė