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ROTTERDAM
Engineer suggests drainage solution
BY JUSTIN MASON Gazette Reporter
Reach Gazette reporter Justin Mason at 395-3113 or jmason@dailygazette.net.

   Pipes connecting to storm drains in the flood-prone Koolkill Meadows subdivision will need to be lowered in order to relieve the neighborhood of its groundwater problems, a private engineering study determined.
   Studies conducted by the Cobleskill-based Lamont Engineers determined the town can build a storm drain system three feet lower in the neighborhood and then reroute the line to an existing outflow system located nearby off Viewpoint Drive. Under this plan, residents of the development would need to spend between $10,000 and $20,000 to create “foundation drains” that would drain the groundwater into the deeper storm drain.
   “In our opinion, the best way to help alleviate the high groundwater situation would be to build a storm drain system low enough to allow residents to install exterior foundation drains which would flow by gravity into the system,” said Milan Jackson, an engineer with the company who conducted the study. “The drains should be constructed below the elevation of the basement floor to relieve the water pressure that is currently being experienced.”
   Supervisor Steve Tommasone said the town is now trying to verify the elevations in the study, along with the necessary easements needed to conduct the work. He said the town’s public works department could probably complete much of the work involved sometime next spring.
   “It’s my intention to do most of the work internally,” he said. “We just have to make sure we have everything in order.”
   Built in 1992, the development includes 16 houses along Horizon Boulevard and Bluebird Lane, just south of the Thruway. All of the residences operate on septic systems and have basements that contain sump pumps that connect to the neighborhood’s storm drain system.
   About two years ago, some residents in the development began experiencing significant groundwater flooding in their basements. In June, Lamont was hired for a fee of $2,500 to study the subdivision’s flood-prone properties.
   The study determined that the neighborhood’s storm drain system is located nearly three feet above the level of the basement floor in some homes. The study also found the drain system empties into a fi eld in the eastern area of the subdivision, which then serves to recharge the development’s groundwater.
   Jackson said the groundwater problems in Koolkill Meadows are troublesome, but solvable. He said the solution is much less difficult than in Masullo Estates, a development about two miles east of Horizon Boulevard with similar problems. “It’s not even close,” he said comparing the two.  

  
  
  

May I display my ignorance here for a minute? What is the Koolkill Medows subdivision? This is the first time I have even heard the word. I thought that area was just called Sunrise Estates. In either case, I'm glad there is a resolve for this water problem.

Yes, this is in with Sunrise Estates, but this part was not originally part of Sunrise.  I'm guessing that since it's an addition to the original plan, it probably picked up it's own name somewhere along the line.  This is the first I've heard of the name Koolkill Meadows, too.

I have talked to some people who live in Sunrise and they never heard of Koolkill Medows either.

Under this plan, residents of the development would need to spend between $10,000 and $20,000 to create “foundation drains” that would drain the groundwater into the deeper storm drain.

Nice.  Lay it on the residents.

The study determined that the neighborhood’s storm drain system is located nearly three feet above the level of the basement floor in some homes. The study also found the drain system empties into a fi eld in the eastern area of the subdivision, which then serves to recharge the development’s groundwater.

Planning Commission strikes again.  Hey...here's a good idea...let's build Helderberg Meadows without requiring an EIS.  Incredible!

He said the town’s public works department could probably complete much of the work involved sometime next spring.

I'd laugh but I know it's not funny.  We're starting year 4 in our effort in Masullo Estates and I can tell you we've heard that exact phrase 4 times already.  I hope you have better luck but don't hold your breath.

From what I hear, Horizon Blvd is an easier fix than Masullo's. And someone told me that they were digging up a corner of Horizon and I don't know the other street name. If you go into Sunrise onto Horizon Blvd, they said it was on the first left corner. Was that the town doing some drainage work?

Easier according to who...Lamont?  Lamont had our problem fixed too at one point.  Nothing is ever quite as complicated as it might appear.  Again, it's as much about will to fix the problem as it is about the problem itself.

The people in Horizon Estates are footing the bill for most of the fix by being forced into putting French Drains around their whole house. If they were needed why wasn't the builder forced into installing them when the foundations were put in? If the storm drains were installed 3' too high why didn't the town inspectors and planning board do something about it when the development was being built instead of when problems arise due to faulty design. Why when the town accepts a development with all it's faults they never fix them even when the study proves that the problem was there when the town accepted the development from the builder. Why is the builder never held accountable in this town for shoddy work and improper design of their projects. When the storm drainage system would not work as designed why wasn't it sent back to the planning board b4 the development was allowed to be completed?

I say scrap the planning board entirely!! Really! When a developer wants to build ANYTHING here, the town should immediately take monies from them to place in escrow that will be paid to an engineering firm of the town's choice. And that money would cover the cost. The town would save time and money. And the town board should be handling this entire process. It ends up falling on them in the end anyways!

Pretty much all of Rotterdam is wetlands, and neither the planning board, the zoning board or even the town board are educated in such matters. And clearly neither are the developers.

Here's my advice to the people affected in Horizon:  Don't wait until spring to find out what's being done in preparation for the fix or you'll be waiting another season at least.  Stay on them every single Board meeting during Public Comment...and be wary of the assurances if they are not backed up by specific actions that you can measure.

Michael, I absolutely agree. I believe there is a movement in progress to fight this problem.

I hope the people involved at Horizon Estates have a good lawyer on their side.

Quoted from Shadow

I hope the people involved at Horizon Estates have a good lawyer on their side.

I dont think a lawyer would know what to do about the drainage problem, nor could he/she recommend an educated informed and with the proper resources person who would/could fix the drainage issue----just a damn blame game with no real solutions/actions.....

How about the army corps of engineers(the best of the best?)---they did so well on the new little league field site(from the county and quickly too I might add)

There are lawyers that specialize in hydrological problems but they are few and far between and they are the only type of lawyer who truly understand water problems. The Army Corp has been cited in recent years for doing nothing when asked about development in a wetlands area as they don't have the manpower to do too much. Another way to handle it is to hire a hydrological engineer to do the study and then let a lawyer present the facts to the courts. No matter what way you go it costs a lot of money and that's why there are so few lawsuits.

The town had 5 engineering firms do a study on the proposed fix for the water problems in Masullo Estates and didn't use any of them as the town didn't like what they said it would take to fix the problems. Enter the engineer for Helderberg Meadows and the town jumps right in and says he knows more than the other 5 engineering firms. I'm a little skeptical to say the least that the town made the right choice to relieve the water problems in Masullo Estates as are many of the residents who live there. Time will tell if the towns decision will cure the water problem or will it be back to the drawing board.