park slope sewer system
During yesterday’s thunderstorms the basement in my building was flooded. The pumps were working but the main sewer was overwhelmed with the amount of water that came down. I noticed most of my neighbores having the same issue. I called 311 and they said that they will have the DEP take a look. I understand…
During yesterday’s thunderstorms the basement in my building was flooded. The pumps were working but the main sewer was overwhelmed with the amount of water that came down. I noticed most of my neighbores having the same issue. I called 311 and they said that they will have the DEP take a look. I understand that this has been an issue for many years now. Does anyone have and idea’s on how to resolve this issue?
if you install a backflow valve, will you be able to snake the line?? I would think that pulling the snake back would cause the valve to shut.
The city is not maintaining the system – it is full of debris which reduces the capacity.
The city is not maintaining the system – it is full of debris which reduces the capacity.
install a backflow valve and fugediboudit!
Welcome to reality. Too much water in too little time, too much development and concrete plus a combined antiquated catchbasin/sewer system means flooding in your basement. There is really nothing that you can do. The water is going to back up in the lowest spot in the building.
I recently replaced the sewer line from the building to the street main sewer. The old line was made of clay as well. even though I replaced the line, the sewer still backed up to my basement!
We had this every time there was a torrent — garden apt./English basement flooding. Snaking sewer lines didn’t improve matters, eventually had to do a camera inspection and found that all the way out by the sidewalk/street line old roots to trees that are no longer above ground had blocked the line. These were the original, clay sewer lines from nearly 100 years ago. We had to have them replaced for two adjoining houses at a cost of nearly $50,000, with front bluestone yards and sidewalks dug up…it was a huge job. Big pain in the butt. But I think probably common in brownstone Brooklyn….and now we have cast iron sewer lines good for another 200 years…before we had it done, btw, we called 311 and city DOE came out to check the sewer main, which was clear. It’s the homeowner’s responsibility from house to main, which runs down roughly the middle of the street. Happy to say now there has been no flooding….
I got a call from a tenant as well. Our basement on 6th & 6th has always been bone dry, but yesterday apparently flooded. Not sure if this is from the same thing, but I am curious to hear any intel from DEP on this. I looked around and it wasn’t due to any pipes bursting, etc so i am baffled.
There are some corners in Park Slope that turn into huge lakes in a hard rain. It’s really bad. We don’t live there now but when we lived there we’d see it all the time. Did somebody say before it was because of an underground stream? I feel like I remember reading that here before.
Do call 311 and if the outcome isn’t satisfactory, start a petition with signatures of homeowners and landlords near you and bring it to your city coucilperson.