Saturday, December 08, 2012

"DC offers solution to Bloomingdale flooding: Big Tanks Under McMillan"


A summary of sorts:

From: "Barragan, JuanCamilo (EOM)" <juancamilo.barragan@dc.gov>
To: "Barragan, JuanCamilo (EOM)" <juancamilo.barragan@dc.gov>
Sent: Saturday, December 8, 2012 9:18 AM
Subject: [LeDroitPark] D.C. Offers Solution to Bloomingdale Flooding: Big Tanks Under McMillan

"In hopes of heading off the floods that have struck homes in Bloomingdale and LeDroit Park during heavy storms over the last decade, Mayor Vince Gray and D.C. Water announced a short-term solution today: big holding tanks to be constructed on the site of the existing McMillan Sand Filtration Site.

Under the first phase of the plan, expected to be completed in 2014, water flowing through the area's century-old sewers will be diverted away from the two neighborhoods and stored in a holding basin at McMillan—located along North Capitol Street north of Bloomingdale—that can take up to six million gallons of stormwater. 

As part of a second phase, D.C. Water will build a 19-foot diameter tunnel under First Street NW that will hold an additional six million gallons of wastewater and stormwater during heavy rain events. That tunnel is expected to be completed by 2016.

The proposed tunnels are a response to complaints from neighborhood residents that D.C.'s only solution for the flooding was a massive holding tank being built under the Anacostia River but not expected to be completed until 2025. The idea for the tunnels at McMillan were developed by D.C. Water officials and a flooding task force created by Gray earlier this year. They are expected to cost $40 million, which D.C. Water and city officials have been in discussions over how to split.

Earlier this week the D.C. Council passed a bill that would add 30 cents to residents' water bill to cover the cost of damages produced by sewage backups during heavy storms. "

Best,

Juan Camilo Barragan
Executive Office of the Mayor
202  538  0313

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