Recent comments in /f/philadelphia

mortgagepants t1_j9fz3fe wrote

Reply to comment by kingintheyunk in 44th & Powelton/Market always floods when it rains by diatriose

there are mitigation techniques and different types of pavement that can help ameliorate the issues. the city will give rain boxes, they planted some on market street (although i doubt for drainage issues.)

but it would be nice if part of the licensing for corner stores is to have a garbage can. i feel like a lot of casual litter comes from stores like that.

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Allemaengel t1_j9fxgon wrote

Reply to 44th & Powelton/Market always floods when it rains by diatriose

I work road construction and deal a lot with storm sewers. Three main factors that individually or in combination typically cause this type of flooding.

1.) First, obviously trash and leaves blocking the drain, especially if its the lowest drain in the neighborhood.

2.) Then old, undersized storm sewer pipes never properly designed for the amount of rainfall within the micro-watershed they handle, especially with that amount of impervious surface. Also remember storm sewers gotta handle roof downspout, sump pump and parking lot water in addition to what falls on the street. Plus rainfalls are getting heavier and in a shorter period of time than in the old days.

3.) Finally, the underground creek flowing across very flat terrain. Storm sewers won't get much drop or pitch with such minimal grade so drains at low points in the neighborhood will inevitably back up as water fills the creek and pipes leading to them. Just nowhere for the water to go.

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