Causes, Solutions for Basement and Property Offered at Meeting

and members of the (ALMU) met with about a dozen concerned homeowners May 17 to go over reasons why basements and properties flooded.

ALMU provided information sheets explaining that basement flooding could be caused by a number of problems, including whether basement drainpipes lead to the storm sewer or sanitary sewer.

The entire meeting can be viewed online here through ALC-TV.

Storm water from the “perfect storm” on Feb. 28 and the wettest April ever combined to cause a number of flooded yards and basements certain areas around the city including Lake Road and Harvey Parkway, Redwood and James Circle.

Those in attendance were given handouts showing where sanitary and sump pump backups occurred on both Feb. 28 and April 25. This is the second meeting the city has held in as many months to address the problem.

ALMU Chief Utilities Executive Todd Danielson said residents could reduce or prevent backups by installing stand pipes or check valves in their basements. Another option is to install a sanitary sewage pump.

Both city presentations are available on ALMU’s website and can be downloaded. The most recent download is under "Mitigating Basement Backups.”

Both the city and ALMU will be starting several initiatives. ALMU manages the city’s sanitary lines and the city handles stormwater.

ALMU:

•  Removing stormwater from sanitary sewers. Between April 9 and May 9 ALMU plugged three storm sources and constricted 1;
• Reconnecting catch basin to storm sewer and disconnecting catch basins from sanitary lines;
•  Using twitter and CodeRED to notify residents when conditions could cause flooding;
•  Proceeding on the Inwood/Dellwood/Bellaire rehab which will help improve flooding on nearby streets. The project is set for 2012;
• In 2014, a sewer seperation project is scheduled from Fairfield, Inwood, Redwood, Brookfield and Berkshire area

 City of Avon Lake:

• Connected unused, sealed off combined sewer to storm sewer;           
• Installing smallcatch basins on the south side of Lake Road;
• Cleaning catch basins

Starting stomrwater work on Bonnieview, Colony and Parkland.

ALMU staff has removed three stormwater sources on Harvey Parkway, Curtis Drive and Woodstock Avenue, constricted one on Moreland Drive, reconnected a catch basin to the storm sewer on Faye Avenue and disconnected buried catch basins from the sanitary sewer on Bellaire Road, and is investigating other sources.

The staff believes some foundation drains are still connected to the sanitary sewer by sump pumps (which is against ALMU regulations) and has instituted a program of basement inspections in formerly combined sewer and other suspected areas. Sump pump discharges can quickly overwhelm sewers during water saturated conditions.

ALMU representatives have said it believes some foundation drains are still connected to the sanitary sewer by sump pumps and has instituted a program of basement inspections in formerly combined sewer and other suspected areas. Sump pump discharges can quickly overwhelm sewers during water saturated conditions.

            To date the City has connected an unused combined sewer to the storm sewer and is installing additional catch basins on the south side of Lake Road to send the stormwater directly to Lake Erie. Residents can help by inviting an ALMU representative into your home to inspect your sump pump. It will only take about five minutes to determine if it is sending stormwater to the sanitary sewer—putting you and your neighbors at risk for sewer backups. You can also help to relieve basement flooding by keeping the sewer clean-out pipe in your yard capped.

“Don’t be tempted to use it as a yard drain,” Chief of Utility Operations Rick Eberle, said.

 To have your sump pump or basement inspected call ALMU at 440-933-6226.