Tredyffrin Residents Air Flooding Problems

A two-hour meeting in which Tredyffrin Township residents shared stories about massive flooding problems was punctuated by a hard rain.

“It’s pouring,” Julie Gosse, supervisors chairwoman said just before adjourning the meeting.
The township supervisors and staff are working on a plan to prevent massive flooding and keep the 32,000 residents safe.

During the extreme weather conditions on Aug. 18 and 19 and Sept. 1 from Tropical Storms Fred and Ida, the township office received numerous calls from property owners about flooding and other issues.

A total of 12 inches of rain was reported in less than two weeks.

Fred dumped 4 inches in 1.5 hours and 3.56 in one hour. Ida dumped more than 8 inches of rain.

On Monday night, residents from all parts of the township shared stories about basement flooding, expensive safety upgrades necessary to stay safe, and general frustrations of flooding when it rains.

Additional public meetings are scheduled on April 4 and 18 from 7 to 9 p.m,in the township building, 1100 Duportail Road.

Residents complained about the constant upkeep and high costs to control the flow of water.

One resident said when it rains, she can’t leave the house because the water is so high.

Resident Jamie Guthrie of Coldstream Drive said the runoff from Trout Creek and other streams has been growing in the last five years.

Torrential downpours from Hurricane Ida in September caused flooding at the Gateway Shopping Center, closing many of the stores and knocking down a stone wall at the entrance of the shopping center.

Crews from Meco Constructors Inc., Bensalem, Buck County, are building a dam on the bank of Trout Creek to lay the foundation for a new wall.

The wall collapsed when Hurricane Ida flooded along the creek and highways throughout the region. The hurricane caused flooding in many of the stores and covered the parking lot in mud.
The project is expected to be complete next month.

Solution in the works

Joseph F. DiRocco, assistant township manager and director of finance, said the plan is to hire an engineer to conduct a stormwater management plan.

The possibilities include bonds, an additional annual cost for stormwater control and selling the township sewer plant.

Supervisor David Miller said there are pros and cons with selling the sewer system.

The benefit is a high cash infusion. The con is that the township will lose control.

Supervisor Mark Freed said many homes were built before stormwater was a problem in the township, noting that new construction is not the problem.

“The real problem is home owners trying to deal with existing situations,” he said.
The supervisor noted that the new developers are providing stormwater management plans.