Archived News Release: September 8, 2014 - The City of Ann Arbor will host a public meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 17 at 6:30 p.m. at Slauson Middle School, 1019 W. Washington St. in Ann Arbor, to update the status of the Footing Drain Disconnection (FDD) Program issue investigation resulting from the 2013 FDD Survey.
The City of Ann Arbor launched the FDD program in 2001 in response to repeated sewer backups. About 1,800 homes have had their footing drains disconnected from the sanitary sewer system, and sump pumps were installed to route storm water to storm drains instead of sewer lines.
The 2013 FDD Survey results were collected from homeowners who participated in the FDD program. Following the survey, the city initiated an investigation into respondents’ complaints of water issues in their basements.
About 150 survey respondents reported some flooding, dampness or seepage in their basements following a footing drain disconnection. A construction engineer, contracted by the city, investigated a representative portion of these properties and found about a dozen instances related to the footing drain disconnection and sump pump installation.
A committee comprised of members of the FDD program Citizens Advisory Committee and Sanitary Sewer Wet Weather Citizens Advisory Committee has developed recommendations following the FDD Survey investigation, which will be presented at the Sept. 17 public meeting.
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