Germantown – E Mt Airy Flood Prone Intersections
The Philadelphia Water Department has released an executive summary (link) of their multi-year study of stormwater flooding in Germantown – E Mt Airy. Their findings provide a wake-up call on flash flooding risks in this highly developed part of Northwest Philadelphia.
The combined sewers that the City built in the late 1800s and early 1900s to enclose the Historic Wingohocking Creek are simply too small for today’s stormwater runoff, causing sewer backups in nearly 2,800 homes and local flooding in the 24 intersections highlighted in this map.
PWD estimates flood annual flood damages of $7.1 millions to buildings and $1.6 million to vehicles.
PWD conducted detailed investigations into 2 storm relief options: 1) stormwater storage, and 2) tunnel relief. Both options are shown in the Executive Summary, however they are difficult to read. The map below reproduces the Water Department’s Storage Option.
Do you live in a flash flood prone area in Germantown – E Mt airy? If you do, your 1st priority should be to obtain flood insurance. Your 2nd step should be to ask your local elected officials, PWD, and your local community groups what steps they are taking to inform the public about our flash flooding problems and steps to reduce the risk.
Posted in Mt Airy - Philadelphia, Wingohocking
Historic Wingohocking Creek Watershed Talk
I will be giving on January 29th, 7:00 PM at Lovett Library. Flash flooding has been a problem in E Mt Airy and Germantown with Haines and Belfield as the epicenter.
My talk is the 2nd in a 4 part series about Historic Mt Airy (link). I’d like to invite you and your associates to this talk on the history of the Wingohocking, why it was converted to a combined sewer, the resulting reshaping of the watershed’s landscape which allowed extensive development which then lead to our current flash flooding problems.
I am hoping to develop support for a Wingohocking Watershed Zoning Overlay that would require impervious land cover restrictions comparable to those now required in the Wissahickon Watershed Overlay.
You can view my talk slides here.
Posted in General
The Pennsylvania Story: More Plastic Pollution in the Making
My new video shows how Marcellus shale gas is changing economics of plastic production, increasing risks of plastic pollution and climate change.
Posted in Climate Change, Plastic Pollution
Tagged climate, environment, plastic bags, Plastic Pollution
Trash Detective 101
Posted in General
Philadelphia’s Single Use Plastic Bag To Be introduced Soon
Councilman Squilla has announced that he plans to introduce a single use plastic bag bill that will reduce bag use in Philadelphia by 80% in first year.
Posted in General, Phila Trash, Plastic Pollution
Wingohocking Flash Flooding
Here’s the slide show that I am presenting to the East Mt Airy Neighbors zoning Committee on April 16th.
Posted in General, Wingohocking