SPU Meeting in Broadview -Updates on Projects
SPU will be holding a public meeting on Wednesday, October 19, in the Fellowship Hall of Luther Memorial Lutheran Church, at 13047 Greenwood Avenue N. There will be an Open House from 6:00-6:30, followed by a meeting from 6:30-8:00. This meeting will provide additional information on the two pilot projects and the sewer and stormwater improvements discussed below.
Infiltration Reduction Pilot:
95% of candidates in SPU’s Infiltration Reduction pilot area chose to participate in the program. Over the summer, the mainline sewer pipes and side sewers in this area have been inspected and cleaned, and clean-outs have been installed in side sewers that didn’t have them previously. Grouting of mainlines and side sewers will be completed by the end of September. Early indications are that the grouting has been very successful in reducing infiltration.
Backflow Prevention Pilot:
To date, 83% of potential candidates for backflow valves have allowed SPU to conduct basement elevation surveys of their homes, and the survey data is now being used to update our Broadview sewer system modeling. This modeling is critical to determining not just which homes would benefit from the installation of a backflow valve, but will guide us in our decisions regarding how to proceed with long-term sewer improvements. The next step in finalizing the list of eligible homes is to video side sewers to determine exact locations of side sewer pipes, to examine connections and groundwater issues, to decide the best type of device to install, and to locate the best spot for the devices. We hope to finalize our list of eligible homes by the end of September and begin installing valves in October.
I attended this meeting and although my home has not had a sewage backup I was sorry to learn from one affected resident that she welcomes the backflow preventor installation even when it means that she and her family may need to relocate to a motel until the “event” is over. When a backflow preventor is installed it prevents sewage from entering a home but it also prevents sewage or water from any drains to leave the home rendering sinks, toilets, etc. unusable until the “event” subsides.
In my mind these desperate homeowners are being forced to accept a potential solution that will impact their lifestyle, inhibit their ability to sell their home and no doubt reduce its value when it is time to sell.
It is almost unthinkble that any resident in the City of Seattle would be forced into a situation that would render their home unliveable for any period of time whenever we have a significant storm event.
If we need to replace the sewers, we need to replace the sewers!
Jacquie Mahoney