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Louisville flood of 2009
What can we do?
Richard Henry
Dial One LV Lewis Plumbing
A very significant rainfall event hit Louisville Metro on August 4, 2009 with rainfall amounts measuring 5.30 - 6.56 inches in
approximately 2 hours. This event turned streets into rivers and basements into swimming pools. This flood hit the west and
southwest ends of Louisville especially hard. Besides the amount of rain that fell in such a short time, there are other contributing
factors as to why this happened. The water in the streets could not run into the storm drains fast enough because the drains were
stopped up with trash and debris. Since that part of town is on what is called “combination storm and sanitary sewer”, the water
backed up into basements. Older houses built around that type of sewer system usually have their gutter downspouts, floor drains
and sump pumps running into the sewer. This, along with the storm drains from the street, causes the sewer mains to fill with
storm water. The only place left for the water to go is into people’s basements, filling them 6 to 8 feet deep or more with sewage
and water.
Was MSD to blame?
When this occurred, people blamed Louisville MSD for this problem. The fact is MSD is not the problem, they are the solution. MSD
took over all the sewers in Louisville and Jefferson County. Before this, most of the sewers were run by small companies and
towns. They went to small package treatment plants and most fell into disrepair. MSD stepped up and took over all these small
plants and is working tirelessly to update the entire sewer system. After the flood in August, they re-instated the Plumbing
Modification Program. This will safeguard your basement against sewer backup from the sewer main. In this program, openings in
your basement such as, floor drains, toilets and washers are protected. Floor drains are disconnected from the sewers and run to
sump pumps that pump out into the yard. Toilets and washers are protected with ball valves and check valves, not allowing sewage
to flow backwards. Then, downspouts and sump pumps are removed from dumping into the sewer and are allowed to run into the
yard. This will protect the basement and relieve the amount of water entering into the sewer.
In addition to the Plumbing Modification Program, MSD is starting a new program called: MSD’s Residential Sanitary Sewer Line
Replacement Program. This program will start after April 1, 2010. This program will allow home owners to request financial
assistance to replace their sewer from house to right-a-way. The reason they are doing this is that a lot of ground water is entering
into the sewer system through damaged sewer pipe on personal property. Cracks and root intrusion into house sewers causes’
city wide, a huge amount of ground water to enter the sewer system. This ground water enters into the treatment plant and must be
processed when it does not need to be. MSD will be sending out information on this program in the future.
You may contact MSD at (502) 587-0603 and request a Plumbing Modification Package. In this package are all the instructions to
take advantage with no charge to you. MSD pays for the work to be done; all you need is two free bids from the list of approved
plumbers. If you have any other questions or comments you can contact me at (502)231-0490, richard@dialonelewisplumbing.com
or visit our site at www.dialonelewisplumbing.com.
What can we do?
Richard Henry
Dial One LV Lewis Plumbing
A very significant rainfall event hit Louisville Metro on August 4, 2009 with rainfall amounts measuring 5.30 - 6.56 inches in
approximately 2 hours. This event turned streets into rivers and basements into swimming pools. This flood hit the west and
southwest ends of Louisville especially hard. Besides the amount of rain that fell in such a short time, there are other contributing
factors as to why this happened. The water in the streets could not run into the storm drains fast enough because the drains were
stopped up with trash and debris. Since that part of town is on what is called “combination storm and sanitary sewer”, the water
backed up into basements. Older houses built around that type of sewer system usually have their gutter downspouts, floor drains
and sump pumps running into the sewer. This, along with the storm drains from the street, causes the sewer mains to fill with
storm water. The only place left for the water to go is into people’s basements, filling them 6 to 8 feet deep or more with sewage
and water.
Was MSD to blame?
When this occurred, people blamed Louisville MSD for this problem. The fact is MSD is not the problem, they are the solution. MSD
took over all the sewers in Louisville and Jefferson County. Before this, most of the sewers were run by small companies and
towns. They went to small package treatment plants and most fell into disrepair. MSD stepped up and took over all these small
plants and is working tirelessly to update the entire sewer system. After the flood in August, they re-instated the Plumbing
Modification Program. This will safeguard your basement against sewer backup from the sewer main. In this program, openings in
your basement such as, floor drains, toilets and washers are protected. Floor drains are disconnected from the sewers and run to
sump pumps that pump out into the yard. Toilets and washers are protected with ball valves and check valves, not allowing sewage
to flow backwards. Then, downspouts and sump pumps are removed from dumping into the sewer and are allowed to run into the
yard. This will protect the basement and relieve the amount of water entering into the sewer.
In addition to the Plumbing Modification Program, MSD is starting a new program called: MSD’s Residential Sanitary Sewer Line
Replacement Program. This program will start after April 1, 2010. This program will allow home owners to request financial
assistance to replace their sewer from house to right-a-way. The reason they are doing this is that a lot of ground water is entering
into the sewer system through damaged sewer pipe on personal property. Cracks and root intrusion into house sewers causes’
city wide, a huge amount of ground water to enter the sewer system. This ground water enters into the treatment plant and must be
processed when it does not need to be. MSD will be sending out information on this program in the future.
You may contact MSD at (502) 587-0603 and request a Plumbing Modification Package. In this package are all the instructions to
take advantage with no charge to you. MSD pays for the work to be done; all you need is two free bids from the list of approved
plumbers. If you have any other questions or comments you can contact me at (502)231-0490, richard@dialonelewisplumbing.com
or visit our site at www.dialonelewisplumbing.com.