FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) – The Allen County Highway Department received emergency approval from Allen County Commissioners to replace a stretch of pipe in Fort Wayne Friday morning. Local homeowner, Kenneth Terriel Mowery called the Highway Department after his basement began flooding out of control in the 6200 block of Orange Drive. This happened following intense weekend rainfall. The rising water was too much for Mowery's sump pump to keep up with. The issue was exacerbated by two corroded and collapsed basins near the home, which prevented water from going through them. The metal pipe extends from a basin on the west side to another basin and into the Maumee River. These older pipes have a 20-year lifespan and the Highway Department says that they have been there for much longer. "Most of them are over 100 years old," said Barn Supervisor with the Allen County Highway Department, Hal Williams. "They only last so long because a lot of them are clay, and they break down over the years." The metal pipe will be replaced by a 12-inch high-density polyethylene dual wall pipe. The plastic pipes last far longer and will have nine times the power of the old pipe. As for Mowery's basement, it is no longer flooded. It will continue being pumped until the issue is fully resolved. "The one thing I want to say is that people have been really cooperative. I thank everybody, the County Highway Department, and the sewer department [Fort Wayne City Utilities] and Nipsco," said Mowery. The project will cost around $38,000. The county is working to get three bidders for the project. Williams says he hopes to have the project complete in about two weeks. "We're here for the people. We work for the people. They pay our salary one way or another, and if they have an issue, all they have to do is call and we try to resolve it as quickly as possible."