Blocked City Pipes

July 2, 2015:  I’ve discovered this comment from the mayor on Monday night is not true. “All I can tell you is that we did not have blockages in the system. We found some quirks but we have not found blockages.” The fact that the city has at least one blockage with video evidence was not addressed. This known blockage is being denied, are there others?

Take countless stories all over town and add to it that I learned yesterday I can go to a web page – plug in a keyword using the ‘find’ button and narrow the way I search for information. The find button highlights and takes me to sections using my keyword. I began playing with meeting minutes and searching for the words “sewer” “Greytak” or “drains” etc.

A report dated May 28, 2014 was submitted to the mayor by Mr. Greytak. A video was done on two pipes at one of the private beaches on the west side of Bay. CT Consultants findings state: “The west pipe composed of corrugated metal and vitrified clay pipe had a blockage at 120 feet from the outfall of the pipe and televising could not progress beyond that point.”

Residents say the water is coming out of the hillside more and more instead of the pipe. There is a constant flow of water coming from the pipe even though Greytak says it is only draining ground water. This “blockage” is acknowledged many times in many pages of council and sewer committee notes.

I am giving you the short version even though the discussions referenced issues dating back to 1972 surrounding this pipe; a few being the size of the pipe, erosion and the deterioration of the property, loss of property values, loss of enjoyment and no record of easements. The public states the pipe belongs to the city and the city should maintain it. Some of the questions posed to the city and the consultant went unanswered. The city refuses to clear the blockage.