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2.64 -P- How many times has the City fixed the problem of a FDD causing stormwater flooding from the sump, or compensated the homeowner for these sump pump or other repairs?

Posted by Lori Byron on 21 Dec, 2013
Category: Category 2 - about potential recommendations

Frank Burdick’s Log Number: 55
Submitted by: Burdick log
Category (1,2,3): 2
Status: Pending
Estimated date to address: TBD, CAC to prioritize

Q. How many times has the City fixed the problem of a FDD causing stormwater flooding from the sump, or compensated the homeowner for these sump pump or other repairs? 

A. The City is researching this topic with the contractor, CDM Smith.

Comments

Peter Houk on 1 Feb, 2014:

Answering this question should be a high priority.

Jim Osborn on 1 Feb, 2014:

Yes, a good question.

Lori Byron on 21 Feb, 2014:

Update from [CITY]:

A.     Records are currently being researched. As there is no database or other organization of the records, this is a manual file-by-file effort and will take time. Results of the search will be presented when completed.

Lori Byron on 7 Nov, 2014:

Update from [CITY]:

A. In a few instances where the City was aware of a sump pump installation not working as intended, the City has fixed the problem, such as upgrading the sump pump or adding a second pump. 

Investigation of city records was able to go back to 2007.  During this timeframe 12 claims were identified as being at a property at which either a City FDD or a DOM FDD were performed. Of the 12 claims, one was approved. [This same answer applies to Question 2.63]

Patricia Marten on 7 Nov, 2014:

Can you provide further info on these claims?  What kind of problems did they have.  
Thanks

Patricia Marten on 10 Nov, 2014:

In addition to question above.....
Were there claims for the frozen pipes on Avondale and did the city pay them?
Thanks

Lori Byron on 12 Nov, 2014:

Pat, 

Thanks for your questions. I'm getting further info about the claims. 

To answer your question about Avondale residents in particular, the answer is no, the City did not get any claims for 1511 or 1515 Avondale.

Lori Byron on 12 Nov, 2014:

Here is further information from the City about claims filed:

A. The City has not compensated any property owner for sump pump or other FDD system related repairs done by the property owner. Nor has the City compensated any property owner for system redesign or adjustment. 

In situations where issues have arisen following installation regarding the design of a system, the City has worked with the property owner and contractor within the FDD program, including covering additional system costs where required. When an installation issue has been brought to the City’s attention, the City has helped with getting the contractor to take care of the issue.

Unless discussed or included in the list below, none of those has been submitted to the City as a claim that would have been reviewed by the Board of Insurance Administration.

One property, previously identified as the one claim that was approved, came through as a claim involving a system design issue as well as other factors that resulted in a decision to pay the claim and to cover the cost of the redesigned system, which included installation of a sump pump (the original design did not have a sump pump). 

Aside from that location, only 5 properties with claims to the Board of Insurance involved issues with installation and/or operation of an element of an FDD installation. The City did not pay any of these claims. The City does not know what the contractors did in terms of compensation to property owners for damages. Not all involved stormwater flooding in the basement: 

• Claim in 2014 – referred to the plumbing contractor who installed the system to handle. The claim does not include a request for compensation; just for a broken sump pump fixture to be fixed, along with a request for a battery backup.

• Claim in 2011 – the check valve failed, resulting in a sanitary sewer backup – NOT 
stormwater flooding.

• Claim in 2010 – the claim was for a sanitary sewer backup. The City had previously 
worked with the property owner to get an additional sump pump and had covered that 
cost. 

• Claim in 2008 – the plumbing contractor installed a temporary drain pipe (during winter installation) that didn’t extend far enough from the house so water drained too close to the house; property owner installed a B-Dry system and wanted the City to cover 50% of the B-Dry system. The City denied the claim; the plumbing contractor was responsible for fixing the installation. (Not a sump pump issue.)

• Claim in 2008 – faulty operation of sump pump (frozen in “on” position so ran constantly). A different contractor fixed the check valve and the property owner wanted the City to cover the $200 repair. Although the property owner reported they had flooding in 2004 due to improper location of the drain by the plumbing contractor, the property owner did not submit a claim to the City. The original plumbing contractor relocated the drain and adjusted the sump pump. Poor workmanship in 2004 may have contributed to the problem in 2008. There was no flooding in 2008.