Dear PoPville – Flooding Hurting Shaw Residents Too

Dear PoPville,

Bloomingdale and LeDroit Park have been getting a lot of attention for their flooding, and deservedly so, but the problem with the antiquated sewer systems goes beyond just there.

I live about a mile to the west in Shaw, and here the issue is as much with large condo buildings as it is with English basements. My building (The Rhapsody at Florida and Vermont) just had its second flood of the ground level units this summer. (It’s also the third in two years.) This one was particularly devastating, with nearly every unit on the ground floor affected. Other buildings nearby have also had multiple, destructive incidents. The ground level of the Floridian had a sewer backup on Sunday as well (it was mentioned on NBC 4). And the Beauregard at 11th and V has had multiple floodings of its garage this summer.

Much as in Bloomingdale, the sewer and drainage systems can’t handle the additional wastewater generated by a denser population in these areas. Yet the new systems in these buildings were built to code, and apparently signed off on by city inspectors.

In any case, it’s nearly impossible to sue DC Water for such instances. They’ve basically got to admit their own negligence before you can sue them. And it’s unclear how their backflow preventer rebates will apply to large buildings.

Anyone else outside of Bloomingdale/Ledroit been affected by recent flooding?