January 8th, 2008 the Washington Square West Civic Association hosted and open forum where Joanne Dahme from PWD presented their plan to protect resident’s basements and a sewer relief project for the neighborhood.

Many residents know the terror of having the sewer back up into their basements during a heavy rain storm. Washington Square West has had a difficult time in trying to deal with this problem and PWD has spent the past year putting together a Short term and Long term plan.

In the Short term there is now a Basement Protection Program in which PGW Inspectors come to problem homes, along with a sewer contractor to analyze why water is back flowing into homes. The current plan is to Cap/plug the floor drains in your basement and then where possible install backwater valves in the sidewalk between the curb trap and house. These valves allow water and waste to flow out but not back in. PWD will cover the costs of such installations as needed, so contact Joanne Dahme if you haven’t had an inspection yet.