Street - Sidewalk - Treebox - Alley Infrastructure
This gallery contains images of how streets, sidewalks, tree boxes, and alleys were constructed around 1930 when development of Petworth - Brightwood began. Infrastructure is built using clay, gravel, and sand, and is designed to be impervious to water. For DC Water to claim that they drilled holes in the sidewalks and alleys to a depth of six (6) feet and found the holes to be dry is totally preposterous (completely contrary to nature, reason, or common sense; absurd; senseless; utterly foolish: a preposterous tale.) Then DC Water performed this boring all over the neighborhood and found the holes DRY. DC Water installed seventy (70) or so street, sidewalk, and alley Bioretention facilities in northwest Washington, DC. I have not seen anything which shows that DC Water did any testing for High Water Table. EVERYONE I know on this block, on both sides of the street, has a sump pump in their basement. That is because there is a groundwater problem in this area. Why was this not investigated by our water authority? ALL of the images in this gallery CLEARLY show the soft area and voids just under the pavement or sidewalks, or alleys where groundwater flows down the hill. Groundwater flows under the sidewalk, through the voids under the blacktop, then under the sidewalk again and on down the hill to Kennedy St. In front of my home this ground water is now blocked by a 50 foot wide six foot tall concrete slab in the ground with the top at sidewalk level. The slab blocks and redirects the groundwater. The groundwater then builds up behind the retaining all and is forced onto the sidewalk and raises the water table under the house. This change in groundwater flow and water table under my home has caused a water bug infestation throughout my house. I have not personally seen ALL of the Bioretention units installed. I have seen many. I have not seen ANY installed in the manner or location as PBR-1309 was installed. PBR-1309 is installed below my home on a hill, five (5) feet from the property line in the tree box. the property is fifty (50) feet wide. PBR-1309 is fifty-two (52) feet wide. Although it has been two years, I am still hopeful that someone at DC Water recognizes that there is a problem and takes action to correct this problem. Just saying "no" it's not my fault, is not going to make this go away. Changing how water flows under a home after 90 years could be an issue. I have spoken to professionals who tell me that ground changes can have devastating effects. When I read things like this about how sinkholes develop I become afraid for my Family. I am posting all this information in case something happens before i can get this Bioretention Planter removed from in front of my home. There is no question that something is going on because of this change. Water doesn't just spill onto the sidewalk for no reason and continue to do so days after rain ends. This Pennsylvania site says exactly what I'm thinking. https://www.dep.pa.gov/Citizens/My-Water/Sinkholes/Pages/What-causes-a-sinkhole.aspx
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