Sump Pumps Ruled Out as Study Continues into Stonegate Sewer Issues

A comprehensive study must still be completed in order to determine the exact cause of a sewer problem along Stonegate Road, but a recent study of homes throughout the area has determined that sump pumps are not a cause for concern.

A building inspection study completed by CDM of Wethersfield found that of 154 homes in the Stonegate Road area, just three had sump pumps that were attached to the sewer and eight others had sump pumps where the connection could not be determined, CDM staff revealed Tuesday evening.

“There are so many different sources of inflow and we went about our study on that gut feeling that it was sump pumps,” said Roger M. Norton of CDM during a presentation held before the Town Council and Stonegate Road residents. “We realized it’s not sump pumps that are the problem and now we need to look at other reasons to identify the best solution.”

Councilors voted unanimously to commission the study in March after six homes along Stonegate Road had sewage back into the drains of their homes following heavy rains.

It was the third time since 2007 that local residents have been affected by sewage flowing into their homes and has led more than a dozen local residents to attend meetings since, demanding the problem be resolved once and for all.

CDM, an independent consultant charged with determining the cause of the problem and providing a suggested resolution, said not only are sump pumps not the root cause but infiltration and inflow from buildings throughout the area does not appear to be causing any serious issues.

“We were told time and again that sump pumps are the root cause but we knew that wasn’t the problem,” said Tony Casale, resident of 360 Stonegate Road. “This is vindication, this is justification for our efforts to come before the council and demand that further action be taken.”

Casale said although there is no answer to the problem just yet, he is pleased with the progress being made.

He said residents are going to continue to press until the problem has been resolved once and for all, but Tuesday’s meeting and the recent studies are a great start to finding the solution.

“This work here, the last eight weeks, is the most progress we’ve seen taken on this issue in four years,” he said.

The area seems to be handling between 100,000 and 400,000 gallons of water per day, CDM engineer Shawn Syde told the nearly 20 area residents that attended the meeting. Of 100 homes identified for the study, he said there was complete compliance from more than 80 percent of homeowners.

“Is the system prepared to handle that kind of flow? Well the answer is we don’t know just yet,” Syde said.

Norton said the company is now  completing a far more comprehensive study that will include video analysis of lines throughout the area, manhole reviews and simulated infiltration and inflow effects during both wet and dry spells to determine the cause.

Mark Cronin, of 342 Stonegate Road, was among one of many who suggested that the study also look at the effects of a pump station being removed from the area when pipes were reconfigured from Misery Brook to Berlin Street years ago.

The pump station had been used to push water uphill, Syde said, and would be part of the study but the reconfiguration left the uphill line capped and inactive. Water no longer must move uphill to leave the Stonegate Road area, he said.

As efforts continue, CDM staff said a recommendation should be reached by Memorial Day with the recommendation presented to town staff and residents by early June.

“We will continue to engage residents in an open discussion and encourage [residents] to do the same if any other problems occur,” said Town Manager Garry Brumback said.