By  Lauren C. Ostberg

Ward 2 Alderman Maryann Heuston requested the formation of a Flood Forum Committee.  Interested members of the public, most of whom came from her ward, met last week to discuss the recent floods and Somerville’s response to them with the DPW Commissioner, a City of Somerville Engineer, and local representatives.

“Many of the sewers in Ward 1 and Ward 2 were built in 1870,” Heuston said.  These flood-prone sewers, combined with the low points from Somerville’s hills, have contributed to multiple floods this year.

She asked that an official committee form to address the matter, as the problem, and residents’ concerns, were ongoing.

Ed Hardy, a long-time resident of Kingman Road, told the Board of Aldermen that he’d been having problems with flooding for more than 40 years.  He doesn’t remember how many times he’s had to replace his electrical system, washing machine, or other equipment kept in the basement; he does remember that his 2003 Hyundai washed away in the high floods this summer.

“We lost four cars on our street,” he said.  Hardy has spoken to the city engineer, and believes that the constant flooding is caused based on an engineering flaw: a 40-inch pipe feeds into a 20-inch one beneath his dead-end street.  “We’re just looking for some relief,” he said.

“These aren’t the sexy, high-power issues,” said Alderman Heuston.  “These are the bread and butter, quality of life issues.”

The Aldermen voted in favor of the Flood Forum Committee, and Heuston said that city engineers seem optimistic about long-term solutions.