Avalon rains plague houses
Published on June 2nd, 2004
STONEHAM, MA - Residents in the Southeastern side of town are still looking for answers after a seven inch April rainfall left their finished basements knee-deep in rain water runoff and sewage back-up, with little or no insurance compensation headed their way.
Several concerned residents along Hampton Road, Avalon Road and Windsor -- all in the Colonial Park School neighborhood -- had a rude awakening to the dangers of a 100-year storm this past April, when a day-long rain storm invaded the finished basements in approximately 18-20 homes, and -- in some instances -- sewage back-up seeped out of drains, basement sinks, toilets and washing machine dry tubs and poured into their homes.
"I am a new homeowner in Stoneham, I have a young baby and I have a wife who is pregnant with another child on the way," said Hampton Road resident Eric Levine. "I don't have the money to pay for the repairs on this. I have raw sewage on the walls and floors of my basement, and I want to know what's going to be done about it."
Stoneham Selectmen Tony Kennedy estimated that each household had suffered between $20-30,000 in damages and replacement costs from the storm, and many residents were concerned that it could happen again.
"This is the fourth time in the last 10 years that I've had rain water flow into my basement," said Avalon Road resident John Bernardi. "Maybe (Bob) Grover can explain to us how we've had four 100-year storms in the last 10 years?"
According to Kennedy, the meeting's organizer, the 18-20 aggrieved neighbors with the water-logged basements filed insurance claims with the town, but Stoneham's insurance policy holder -- MIIA -- summarily rejected each of the claims, noting that "the information by the town intimated that they were not negligent in the flooding on Avalon Road". according to MIAA Spokesperson Mike Cusack.
Stoneham DPW Director Bob Grover claimed that tree roots were at fault for the rain-flow flooding problem, as a group of tree roots had blocked off part off water blow from a catch basin in the Hampton Road/ Avalon Road Area.
The DPW leader further believed that residents using sump-pumps and other draining equipment clogged the town's smaller sewer pipes by pumping large amounts of overflow into the system. Grover further asserted that the resident's may have drained the flow into their sinks or toilets, thereby causing the backflow of sewage into the basements.
"That system is not meant to hold anywhere near that amount of water," said Grover.
"We have our suspicions that might be the culprit in this situation," added Grover.
The basic problem, as Grover see's it, is the system's inability to survive a rain event.
"The MWRA system and the Town Sewer system are not and will not be designed to carry water from rain events," said Grover. "The problems on Avalon Road occur only during substantial rain events. The only guarantee that this will not happen in the future is to remove any open connection in the basement area(toilet, shower, washing machine set tub)."
"I realize this may be a hardship to many; therefore I strongly recommend as a minimum that they install a backflow water valve and possibly a mechanical one as well."
Bernardi challenged that the valves don't work for him, and many of the resident's claimed that it could prove difficult to constantly switch the valve every time it rained.
"I know if I were getting water in my basement, then I would always remember to turn it before we get a 100-year storm," said Grover.
The Board of Selectmen offered to pay for the purchase and installation of the water valves, and each of the parties agreed to meet in several weeks with MWRA officials at the site.
"I just wan't to see you people get what you deserve, and to see the problem fixed permanently," said Smith.
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