Three sewage floods in one week leave Pelham Gardens homeowners facing thousands in repairs
The flooding occurred along Allerton Avenue between Seymour and Morgan avenues, where homeowners said brown sewage water rushed into their basements for the third time this week.
A brief but heavy rainfall Friday morning left at least 10 homes flooded in Pelham Gardens, with residents saying sewage-backed water caused thousands of dollars in damage and renewed frustration over what they believe is an unresolved infrastructure problem.
The flooding occurred along Allerton Avenue between Seymour and Morgan avenues, where homeowners said brown sewage water rushed into their basements for the third time this week. Residents said flooding had never been an issue before Monday.
For Iris Ramirez, the damage extends beyond furniture and belongings.
"A lot of things went straight to the garbage — the kids' books, baby clothes, some of my baby clothes, a lot of pictures," Ramirez said. "How can I get back my childhood in pictures? Everything is gone."
Dozens of trash bags filled with water-damaged belongings lined her driveway Friday as cleanup efforts continued.
Next door, neighbor Ana said the floodwaters have receded, but the odor remains.
"This smells nasty. It smells like feces," she said. "The backyard is full of feces, dead rats and manure."
After the first flooding incident earlier this week, residents hired a plumber who they said determined the problem appeared to originate from city sewer lines. However, when homeowners contacted the city, they said they were told the issue was their responsibility.
"They said it's not on them. It's on us, and it's our sewage line," Ramirez said.
Following Friday's flooding, crews from the city's Department of Environmental Protection and a contractor returned to inspect the area.
Homeowners say they are still waiting for answers and a permanent solution.
Paulette Johnson said she has already spent about $3,000 pumping water out of her basement and cleaning up the damage.
"I have a lot of mental anguish about it because I worked hard to get this home," Johnson said. "I worked very hard. I bought it all by myself, and it was a dream. But now it has become a nightmare for me."
Residents are calling on the city to determine the cause of the repeated flooding and make repairs before another storm causes additional damage.
