08-20-18 Health and Public Saftey & Utilities

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CITY OF SOUTH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CLERK He continued,Keller Park has a combined sewer that typically flows southwest to northeast. CSO two (2)provides relief to this. Keller Park's flood boundary is within the one hundred (100) year flood boundary. Often,you try to avoid people building within those zones. There is a higher risk of those homes flooding, given the FEMA maps. There were quite a few responses to the survey, which are outlined(referencing a slide in the presentation). Of the fourteen(14)backflow devices, eleven(11)were said to have worked great. Again,many saw water enter their basements through a crack in the wall, which has to do with high ground water. Less than fifty percent (50%) of the respondents noted having backflow prevention devices. These devices could have eliminated potential sewer backups into basements. He went on, Given those findings, there are some recommendations that are common between all areas, and others that are site-specific. Of the common recommendations, the City should reevaluate the current design criteria for required storm water management. Our City has design criteria for storm water systems, and it is very much in line with what other municipalities have within the area,but we thought that it might be prudent to look and see if that is enough, given the events that we've been seeing. Another is for the City to continue to offer residents the Basement Valve Program. It tends to be that less than fifty percent (50%) of those that responded had the basement valve in line. Also, we recommend for the homeowners to address the cracking in the basement walls and floors, because it creates an avenue for high ground water to get into them because the groundwater in these areas react so quickly to flooding. Additionally, we suggest the City educate the homeowners in understanding the cause and effect of the basement cracking and the proper techniques that can be applied in those instances. He continued, Other recommendations include to continue the Downspout Disconnection Program to divert runoff away from the sewer system. It keeps it out of the sewer system, but also out of people's homes and basements. It is also something that has to be done by 2020. Homeowners that experience frequent flooding and backup issues outside of the 2016 and 2018 event who see their basement flooding three(3)to four(4)times per year, should look at the possibility of having a lateral inspector. The lateral itself from the home to the sewer is having issues. Also, the City should research the possibility of a notification system for residents, due to residents' concerns. Some said they did get a notification, but they weren't sure where to go for the next step. Also, the videoing of North Shore was very helpful. As part of the routine videoing and cleaning, we recommend that the City place an emphasis on the neighborhoods in this report to get all of those lines videoed and assessed. We believe you may be able to find something in those videos that can help. He went on, FEMA provides grants to purchase homes that are located in flood zones. It is recommended that the City research these requirements and opportunities to see if they are applicable to some of these areas. Some of the areas that are in the one hundred (100) year flood plain, FEMA does have some opportunities there in purchasing some of those homes. We recommend that the City do further research to determine if the ten (10) inch sanitary sewer line along Angela is properly sized for the sanitary flow that is coming from the eighteen (18) inch line. We are also recommending that the City install backflow prevention measures on the storm water outlets to the St. Joseph River within the North Shore Triangle area. This isn't typical, but given the topography of this area, it is something that we recommend. That will keep the storm water from backing up into the system. EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION EMPOWERMENT 455 County-City Building'227W Jefferson Bvld South Bend,Indiana 46601 p574.235.9221 f574.235.9173 TTD 574.235.55671www.southbendin.gov