Critical Neighborhood Flooding Update: 1-16-24

By Frank and Sharon Chase

The following is a recent message sent to city officials.

This updated record is being shared regarding the status of our neighborhood’s storm-sewage systems and city-state responses.  Our concerns need to be given the highest priority.  When the flooding water recedes we are forgotten by our city officials.  To our knowledge, these “critical neighborhoods” are not in “flood zones”.

Back in the mid 90’s, PW Director Joe Carilli wrote to my neighbor that our city engineers have completed their technical assessment of the Allen St. Basin and the Hampton-Eton Sub-Basin, concluding that both basins require storm-sewer upgrades.

Since this technical assessment, city officials have allowed the Allen-Hampton-Eton and the Overlook-McKinley storm-sewer systems to deteriorate further, while development increased in and around our “critical neighborhoods” placing more stress on these compromised systems.  

Along the way, our climate has changed.  We are experiencing more severe weather with intense rainfall flooding our “critical neighborhoods” because our storm-sewer systems are outdated and undersized with deteriorating clay mains.  During 2023, our “critical neighborhoods” flooded six times.  Meanwhile, over the years our city officials have paid out thousands of dollars of credible damage claims to our residents, because of our compromised storm-sewer systems.

Our city officials are mandated to keep us safe from circumstances within their control, therefore, without fully functioning underground storm-sewer systems, our “critical neighborhoods” will continue to flood, placing all of us in “harm’s way”.  In 2023, PW Director Moriarty and PW Board Chairman Saccente toured our neighborhood, property and basement.  Mark confirmed for us that our storm-sewer systems require upgrades.

Intense rainfall overwhelms our compromised storm-sewer systems. Our water tables rise and the excessive storm water infiltration and soil saturation creates underground water pressure (hydrostatic pressure) which threatens our foundations and structures.  Factor in the resulting soil erosion, settling and shifting our foundations and structures are in harm’s way.  My neighbors and I are responsible homeowners.  We have spent thousands of dollars installing water infiltration drainage systems and mitigation devices in and around our properties hoping to prevent further damage from the flooding water.  The storm water-soil related complications are beyond our control because of our compromised storm-sewer systems.  Our recent credentialed engineer’s “Structural Inspection Report” confirms all of this, “The surface flood water needs to be controlled in order to stop the further progression of movement in the foundation. The long term effects can be structurally compromising to the foundation and structure above”.  

From 2014 to 2022, city officials have requested funding assistance from the state for the Allen St. Project and the Overlook-McKinley Drainage Repairs.  Also, in 2022 and 2023, city officials have applied for $13.9M in grants for the Allen St. Project.  It seems our city officials do know the approximate final cost for the Allen St. Project, $13.9M.  Here are the reasons-descriptions given for the required upgrades:

– The Allen St. chronic issues include flooding due to storm-sewer failures, sanitary sewer back-ups and breaks due to insufficient capacity and the system’s age.  The storm-sewer upgrades on Allen St. are the most pressing as storm drains have been backing up on a regular basis.

– The Overlook-McKinley Drainage Repairs include improving the hydraulic alignment of the pipes and the total replacement of an undersized pipe.

– The Allen St. storm and sanitary improvements are needed to correct periodic back-ups and roadway flooding in the area of Stewart St. and to replace these undersized and aging systems.  Flooding and sewer back flow conditions occur on Allen St. and the surrounding streets; Hampton, Eton, Newbury and Roxbury.  The surrounding neighborhoods receive flooding waters from Allen St.  Weston-Sampson Engineers noted: “The state of the infrastructure is already at a crisis level“. 

We are grateful that our city officials have made specific funding requests over the past 10 years for storm-sewer upgrades.  Sadly, to date these efforts have been unsuccessful.  State Officials report that they have delivered a huge surplus of funds to New Britain which was used for other projects.

 The state allocates funds to municipalities to do the projects that the mayor and council prioritize.  Our required storm-sewer upgrades have NOT been prioritized by the mayor and council, therefore, our “critical neighborhoods” continue to flood.  State Officials report there are no scheduled distributions from the FEMA-DOT grant programs at this time. 

We pay our taxes for the benefit of all residents.  When we ask for our fair share to upgrade our vital infrastructure systems, we are ignored because our city officials have a “re-election focused fiscal agenda”, known as “budget relief” which limits “bonding for our critical projects”.  City money must be allocated for these upgrades. 

The evidence and facts are revealing.  We cannot continue to ignore these vital infrastructure upgrades.  Our storm-sewer systems are at “crisis levels” per the engineers.  Our elected-appointed city officials must prioritize-plan-fund-construct to completion these upgrades.  We are told that the planning is underway.  These storm-sewer upgrades require immediate construction once the planning is complete and the funding is allocated.  

The mayor reports that the good news is:  It will happen.  The bad news is:  The time frame is unknown; possibly 2 years for planning and funding and 1-2 years for construction.  We have been waiting for 30 years… 10 years of this wait has been under the leadership of the present mayor.  Our “critical neighborhoods” will continue to flood during this anticipated 3-4 year time frame.  The storm water flooding-infiltration and the resulting soil erosion, settling and shifting will continue, placing our foundations and structures in “harm’s way”.  Our affected constituents are demanding expedited time lines with “herculean efforts” by all city officials.   

Bottomline… The funding continues to be the obstacle in our path.  The reality is simple; the city has funding and funding sources to upgrade Allen-Hampton-Eton and Overlook-McKinley.  Unfortunately, city officials have failed to allocate existing money, have failed to obtain new funding and have prioritized available funds for other higher profile projects!  The shell game continues while “our quality of life suffers and our properties are at risk”.

The neglect and mismanagement must end now!  What is your plan with specific time lines?