Repeat flooding on West Chestnut Street blamed on crushed private sewer
A crushed underground storm sewer on private property is believed to be the cause of repeated flooding during heavy rain on West Chestnut Street in North Franklin Township.
The state Department of Transportation and North Franklin Township officials have been meeting with three property owners where the street meets Franklin Farms Road to discuss the problem, township solicitor Gary Sweat said.
“It’s a bad scene. They need to fix it,” Sweat said Monday, a day after two people in kayaks paddled in the flooded road to draw attention to the problem. Every time the area gets a heavy rain, the intersection fills with water and has to be closed until it recedes.
Sweat said it’s not a good idea to enter the flooded street in the event a rush of water would let loose.
The township believes the crushed pipe is below a gas station owned by the Guttman Group in Speers, he said.
Sweat also said a sinkhole that has developed in a nearby Rite Aid parking lot might be connected to the flooding. The high water also affects a Bob Evans restaurant.
The township has the option of issuing daily fines to the owner of the property that has been the source of the problem. He said that option has been put on hold while the property owners discuss the matter.
PennDOT is not responsible for repairing the sewer because it’s on private property, said department spokeswoman Valerie Petersen.
Sweat said the property owners near the business where the problem is occurring also have the option of filing a civil lawsuit for damages in Washington County Court.
An owner of Guttman was not immediately available to comment Monday on the flooding.