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Sewer upgrades make headway against flooding
(by Mike Klimko - December 03, 2008)
Sewer upgrades make headway against flooding
By MIKE KLIMKO
The continuing efforts by city officials to address repeated flooding of Solon neighborhoods in 2004, 2005 and 2006 are reaching again into the Preserve development with upgraded sewers.
The first of three phases of improvements in the neighborhood bordered by Liberty and Pettibone roads is completed, following the recommendation by URS engineering consultants.
With a steel plate in place at the outlet of a pond near Spatterdock Lane to regulate water flow, the city's engineering department is prepared to move forward with a new storm sewer, according to city Engineer John J. Busch. He was to ask City Council's public works committee this week to authorize a request for proposals from consultants to draw up the specifications and plan to construct the sewer.
"The engineering department has been investigating past flooding issues that have occurred in the Preserve subdivision as a result of the June 22, 2006, event," Mr. Busch said in a report to the committee. "By using the new storm-sewer model and the conclusions contained in the report done by URS, we have developed a three-phase approach to mitigate flooding in this subdivision."
Plans for the second phase call for the construction of a storm sewer on Silkwood Lane, Mr. Busch said. The third and final phase involves work at wetlands in the area, he said.
"Phase two involves construction of a new relief storm sewer that will parallel the existing storm sewer along Silkwood Lane, from the northern cul-de-sac to Nightshade Lane," Mr. Busch said. "The sewer will also extend along Nightshade Lane, approximately 375 feet to the east," he said.
A map of the project shows replacement of an existing storm sewer between Silkwood and Solon schools property to the west.
The third phase includes work in the area of the wetlands to the west of Witchhazel Lane and north of Pettibone Road, Mr. Busch said. The wetlands would provide storm-water detention, he said. "The wetlands will be delineated, and modifications will be made to the outlet structure to prevent further entrenchment of the outfall channel and to facilitate detention."
Flooding socked Solon neighborhoods by increasing degrees each summer, beginning in 2004, and culminating with the June 26, 2006, storm that dropped over 5 inches of rain on the city. The 24-hour rainfall map from 9 p.m. June 21 to 9 p.m. June 22 showed 5 to 5.5 inches rain fell in the area of Richmond, Aurora (Route 43), Liberty and Pettibone roads.
Flooding has been reduced over the past two years due to various remedial projects, such as storm-channel rehabilitation, and can be further reduced by sewer improvements, according to city officials.
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