There
are a few aspects of the recent bloomingdale/ledroit flooding that haven`t
received much attention.
•Much of the water that`s flooding RI ave`s
100 block is not `local` but rather is coming from some nearby higher
neighborhood, flowing to us through DC Water`s pipes. You can see this in the
videos that show geysers coming up from man holes that the water has forced
open. DC water should figure out where this water is originating, and then
contain it there. When the water gets to us, it`s too late.
•Backflow preventers can certainly help keep sewage and storm water from the street from flowing back into a house, but they don`t address the situation at the rear of most houses. Typical houses in this neighborhood have rear roof gutters that drain into each house`s sewer pipes in the back, and this water will flood a basement if it`s raining while the BFP has shut (because of front flooding). DC water needs to address this problem.
Thanks for joining the conversation.
ReplyDeleteTwo quick responses - in every conversation that I have been involved in - public or private - the concern that most of the water is coming from farther up the line has been brought up.
There is a brochure about backflow preventers on the dcwater website. There is a workshop, one at 7 tonight, one on Saturday at 2, to help people. I know when my plumber came, he did not understand all the pipes and where the sewer exited. See also the earlier post about the BFP that worked, BUT,,,
Hope if you have had flooding, you have joined the google group to discuss these issues.
yeah, I've talked with people about where the water is coming from, but when you look at the dcwater docs and communications, their emphasis is on where the water goes. I thought it was worth mentioning.
DeleteI've looked at the bfp docs on the dcwater website. The good (and the bad) is that they can be understood a 3rd grader. But they don't address the rear of house water issues, which are significant.
Re. the flooding from higher-ground neighborhoods:
ReplyDeleteI want to know if DC WATER is examining its ENTIRE system to see why we've had such an unprecedented amount of water within only the past 8 weeks. The flooding is becoming more widespread each time.
I also want an independent investigation to be conducted, as DC WATER has a longheld reputation for keeping facts from the public.
As DC WATER seeks to identify the problem(s), these flooding neighborhoods need temporary pumping stations installed in order to prevent further flooding damage. This is DC WATER's responsibility, but sadly, they don't have the leadership to make it happen.
I think the real issue we need to investigate is where the water is coming from before it hits the neighborhoods higher up. We must act first to divert the rain BEFORE it lands on the higher up neighborhoods - thereby preventing the issue of flooding in Bloomingdale altogether. This is God's responsibility and he/she should be made to address this issue before it gets any worse.
ReplyDeleteA comment on another website pointed out that DC Water is under recent court order to reduce sewage entering the Anacostia and Potomac rivers during heavy rains. They pointed out that the reason DC Water drains sewage into the rivers during heavy rains is because otherwise the stormwater would overwhelm the sewer system and caused flooding into peoples' basements. So, you have to wonder whether DC Water is "solving" the problem of allowing sewage to flow into the rivers by instead just letting the sewer system back up into homes. I have to say this sounds entirely plausible
ReplyDeleteDear EE --
ReplyDeleteI have heard that same comment expressed in numerous circles; ie, DC WATER does not want to pay EPA fines for the discharge into the river.
I believe an independent analysis of the flooding is needed, because DC WATER has a longheld reputation for not telling the truth to the public.
I strongly feel that there has GOT TO BE an impediment in the pipes that would ordinarily relieve the waterflow traveling downstream from Bloomingdale. This would cause a backup and when combined with the flow of waters from upstream causes the critical mass flooding event in Bloomingdale. This and the natural terrain (lower in the city than elsewhere) may also explain this. Having been in the neighborhood for 7 years, I'm hesitant to think that sufficient investigation power to determine what this breakdown is. Is it the new ATF complex or the new hotels to the south of Bloomingdale? Is it lack of catch basins? Is it the gross negligence of DCWasa in looking in the pipes and seeing if there's some debris (or perhaps dead bodies) preventing proper waterflow? There MUST be some reason for this. It doesn't happen on its own without provocation...
ReplyDeletethe only dead bodies are the zombies who can't make decisions and tell the truth about where all the water is coming from..
ReplyDelete