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Allemaengel t1_j9fxgon wrote

I work road construction and deal a lot with storm sewers. Three main factors that individually or in combination typically cause this type of flooding.

1.) First, obviously trash and leaves blocking the drain, especially if its the lowest drain in the neighborhood.

2.) Then old, undersized storm sewer pipes never properly designed for the amount of rainfall within the micro-watershed they handle, especially with that amount of impervious surface. Also remember storm sewers gotta handle roof downspout, sump pump and parking lot water in addition to what falls on the street. Plus rainfalls are getting heavier and in a shorter period of time than in the old days.

3.) Finally, the underground creek flowing across very flat terrain. Storm sewers won't get much drop or pitch with such minimal grade so drains at low points in the neighborhood will inevitably back up as water fills the creek and pipes leading to them. Just nowhere for the water to go.

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tgalen t1_j9fzb1p wrote

This happens at 33rd and Girard too, which is heavily trafficked plus a trolley stop

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ConfiaEnElProceso t1_j9fz6xg wrote

Come check out Girard and 33rd, by the "trolley" stop. Cars have to take the "trolley" lane just to get through.

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puddin__ t1_j9h4dga wrote

43rd and Baltimore becomes a river

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P0tency t1_j9hrqfz wrote

That’s gotta be one of the dumbest lights ever with the weird left on green arrow but lack of actual left lane

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TheFAPnetwork t1_j9gimv2 wrote

This is the type of puddle that kills your alternator when you hit the puddle at the right speed

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napsdufroid t1_j9fybl8 wrote

Shit; that's nothing compared to some other parts of the city

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JBizznass t1_j9fpqo0 wrote

This is what happens when the drains doesn’t get cleared in a regular basis.

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PhillyGator561 t1_j9fz9gp wrote

This is what happens when it's a Philadelphia thing to litter directly into drains.

Latest example, kid riding his bike, slurping down a drink proceeds to chuck the half finished bottle down the drain as we're walking right in next to him.

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cashonlyplz t1_j9hv8ap wrote

It's both. The system was not designed for the volume nor types of waste. Plastic waste causes clog more than anything, and there's an insane amount of it.

Everyone knows Philly is dumb with trash, though. The ignorance is astounding. Every walk of life, pitching their junk where they please.

Realistically, though, it is cheaper to pay folks to clear them regularly rather than to overhaul the entire system.

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diatriose OP t1_j9fr4ey wrote

I always submit a 311 ticket when this happens. I feel like it can't just be a drain clearing thing, it seems like a poor construction issue

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kingintheyunk t1_j9ft1hi wrote

It’s a creek issue. Not gonna be solved.

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mortgagepants t1_j9fz3fe wrote

there are mitigation techniques and different types of pavement that can help ameliorate the issues. the city will give rain boxes, they planted some on market street (although i doubt for drainage issues.)

but it would be nice if part of the licensing for corner stores is to have a garbage can. i feel like a lot of casual litter comes from stores like that.

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kilometr t1_j9hv9me wrote

Yes, but mitigation techniques won’t stop a low point from flooding if there’s a draining issue.

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mortgagepants t1_j9jobkh wrote

for sure- i'm just pointing it out because sometimes solutions are boring, sometimes they're cool, but most of the time they're like 80% boring and 20% cool. so yeah- reducing litter, regularly cleaning the drains, enlarging ones that need it, are all part of the boring solutions, then yeah you can get some planter boxes in the street (which i think is the cool part)

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trashtrucktoot t1_j9hcihd wrote

I've noticed this puddle has been really bad recently, never noticed it before. I know the one at 43rd CVS. Today i learned it's Mill Creek, interesting.

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nalgene_wilder t1_j9g9tiw wrote

Yeah, so do a ton of intersections

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CommunicationTime265 t1_j9fx02y wrote

This just in...section of street floods in city during rain storm.

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