With more than 36,000 feet, or nearly 7 miles, of sewer pipe successfully rehabilitated beneath downtown Salem since 2018, city officials say a final 262 feet of problematic pipe blocks completion on a state-ordered project, but perhaps the tanning booth treatment will work in a pinch. For taxpayers, that last stretch of sewer beneath West Riverside Drive is problematic to the tune of at least another $100,000. But the overall Salem sewer rehabilitation project is still looking to finish $250,000 below its $5.9 million budget, said Water Department Director Larado Robinson. âThis is just kind of a standard thing, because weâre not alone,â Robinson said during a phone call. âThe Western Virginia Water Authority deals with this. Other jurisdictions throughout the United States deal with this.â