Somerville’s storm water drainage system will be put under scrutiny as the city seeks ways to alleviate the severe flooding problems occurring in the Cedar St. area.

By Harry Kane

A utility project to help alleviate flooding in homes on Cedar Street is getting underway with an initial informational meeting addressing the process for improving the drainage system in Somerville.

The objective of the sewer project is to separate the sanitary flow from storm water and to relieve capacity constraints in the current, combined, one-pipe system.

“It’s just really time to replace and update these utilities,” said Melissa Miguel, Assistant Director of Engineering for the City of Somerville. There are cracks and collapses – the drain system was constructed in 1901 – and capacity issues exist. “The infrastructure is basically at the end of its useful life,” she added.

The low-lying area under investigation is located on Cedar Street, between Hall Street and Summer Street. “It’s a natural bowl to collect storm water,” Miguel admitted.

“Proposed work in this area will include water, wastewater and storm water system upgrades,” according to a press release issued by the City of Somerville. “Upgrades to roadway, sidewalk, and bike accommodations will also be completed as part of this project. Construction is expected to begin in the spring of 2014.”

The consulting company chosen will investigate the soil and ground water levels to determine the best storm water mitigation option. Common solutions include infiltration or a detention system. The consultants will present creative solutions based on the field investigation.

On Friday the purchasing department at City Hall received proposals from various consulting firms. Four companies are bidding for the project. “It will take about two weeks for the committee to review all the proposals,” Miguel said. “We want to get a firm that has a good reputation and successful outcomes of projects similar to ours.” A consultant should be hired for this project by September 1.

Only a few residents were in attendance at the meeting on July 31. Ward 5 Alderman Courtney O’Keefe knows the city has to do a better job of getting residents to upcoming meetings. “If I have to go personally flyer houses, I will,” she said. “It’s not the most glamorous community process. It’s not like we’re coming together to design Green Line stations. I mean, we’re coming together to talk about flooding on Cedar Street…but nonetheless, it deserves a lot of focus by residents.”

Suzahne Riendeau has lived at 76 Cedar St. for the past 17 years. She says flooding occurs on her property every summer. The two major storms that caused the most damage were in the summers of 1998 and 2010. “Those were the two that were most problematic for me, because both of those, I had my cellar flooded up over 3 feet,” she said. In the first big storm Riendeau lost two furnaces, two water heaters, washer and dryer and everything that was stored in the cellar. Luckily her electric panel was located above the water. But in total, she’s spent over $40,000 in repairs over the years.

“It’s the quick really heavy rains,” Riendeau admitted. She says the storm water rushes down to her house, coming from all directions and gathering on her property and neighbors’ property. The pressure in the storm drains can’t handle all the water. And Riendeau see’s water like a geyser gushing up during these heavy rains.

Even worse, the flood of storm water is mixed with wastewater. “My cellar was filled with toilet water,” she said. “It smelled so bad, you can’t even imagine. There was fecal water just basically soaking everything around my house.”