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Home My WebLink AboutGail Lane MEMORANDUM To: Matthew Galligan, Town Manager Cc: Cary Praque, Mayor Mike Gantick, P.E., Director of Public Works From: Jeffrey B. Doolittle, P.E., Town Engineer Date: 8/12/09 RE: 52 Gail Lane Drainage Complaint On July 29, 2009, you, Cary Praque and I went out to look at the drainage system in and around 52 Gail Lane in response to a complaint from Mr Brazee about the Town storm drain system across Nancy Drive not working properly. We observed that water was freely flowing through the drainage pipes that cross Nancy Drive into the detention basin next to Nancy Drive. Water was flowing into the entrance to these pipes from a small ditch behind the houses along Nancy Drive and Gail Lane. This ditch begins where a 4-inch black plastic drainage pipe ended behind house#22 Nancy Drive. The grass in the rear yards of#22 and #12 Nancy Drive was wet, but there was no visible standing water. The rear of house#12 Nancy Drive was saturated in the vicinity of the two sheds. The back of house#52 Gail Lane was dryer than the other two back yards and there are numerous trenches filled with stone in this back yard. A trench is being dug along the east property line (with#42) and there is 4" black drainage pipe and assorted sized stone ready to be installed. There is a (sump pump) hose coming from a basement window on the north east corner of the house that is tied into a black drainage pipe that goes underground by the house. We could not see where the underground pipes go, except that they seemed to run away from the house and across the back yard of#52 Gail Lane toward the back yard of#12 Nancy Drive next door. Attached is a map showing these properties and a sketch of the drainage pipes. In summary, no problems were evident with the Town's Drainage system across and along Nancy Drive and the private drainage system (including drainage ditch and pipes) in the back yards of#22 and #12 Nancy Drive and #52 Gail Lane appeared to be working to drain water out of these yards. Please let me know if you have any questions. X ` South Windsor Online Property Viewer 8/11/2009 GAI L LANE N . . . � DTI a� � � ' `•_ ' ig r _ 65 s 'J .46t Property Information town ax,,, Property ID 34500052 : Location 52 GAIL LANE , ' MAP FOR REFERENCE ONLY -ez• IM1< NOT A LEGAL DOCUMENT z This data set/map is for planning purposes only and should y not be used for larger scale analysis.The Town of South Windsor shall not be held liable for any use of the data or t images shown on this map,nor is any warranty of accuracy expressed.All uses of this data settmap are subject to field ''`,r•""^`"' s' verification. S MEMORANDUM To: Matthew Galligan, Town Manager From: Michael J. Gantick, P.E., Director of Public Works Date: February 19, 2010 Subject: Response to MayorPelkey's question concerning Mr. Brazee's Inquiries The Mayor asked us to respond to the question —"Is there anything that can be done to lower the ground water in the neighborhood of 52 Gail Lane?"The quick answer is anything is possible however, the issue is actually a little more complex. First groundwater hydrology can be a complex issue to evaluate as varying subsurface soil conditions (both original and post development) can be difficult to model —thus it can be challenging to artificially lower the 'level of groundwater to the level one may desire. If one can define the Limits and movement of the groundwater the engineering challenge then becomes how do you collect it and can you find a place which is at an elevation that is low enough to achieve the desired groundwater level. A review of the original soils in the neighborhood revealed that some of the soils have a seasonally high groundwater table of between 10 and 20 inches from the surface. We also reviewed the USGS-groundwater monitoring well data in South Windsor since 1934 and found that since circa 2001 the groundwater tables have been higher on average than other reporting periods. Additionally, in 2006 the highest groundwater level record was reported for the monitoring period 1934-2010. What this data suggests is that the area has a natural tendency for high groundwater and in the past 9 years or so the groundwater has been higher that in previous years. This data would also tend to support Mr. Brazee's own observations and comments about it seeming to be wetter in the last 7 plus years than when he first moved into his house. The potential of lowering the cross-culvert on Gail Lane which discharges into the existing detention basin would require an evaluation of both the capacity of the detention basin and what if any affect it would have on lowering the groundwater. On face value exclusive of performing the detention basin capacity analysis,it would appear that lowering the cross culvert would be rather expensive undertaking for the net benefit. Additionally, as noted previously, the network of under drain systems around the upstream homes and the effect on the groundwater would need to be engineered. Again, the question would be could the culvert be lowered enough to make a significant difference in the groundwater. t ' The final consideration in these types of situations is one of public policy and serving the public good. High groundwater conditions are present in many areas throughout Town. If one is to undertake a project to change/improve conditions on private property where/when does one draw the line? The Town has typically responded to infrastructure projects that serve the publicas a whole and involve Town owned/managed facilities. The ramifications of pursuing improvements beyond those the Town owns would have a significant budgetary impact not only from a staffing level but also from a capital expenditure perspective. cc: Jeffrey Doolittle, Town Engineer Jeffrey Folger, Environmental Planner MTG/cm engineering/molloy/cathy/mike/draft brazee question mayor`Itr USGS -- Water Resources of the United States Page 1 of 2 USGS Home Contact USGS Search USGS Groundwater Watch Site Number: 414910072372101-CT-SW 64 •� DESCRIPTION: r Latitude 41049'10", Longitude 72037'21" NAD27 o ; Hartford County,Connecticut, Hydrologic Unit 01080205 Land surface altitude: 40.00 feet above sea level NGVD29. +"^^ �►/ ' Well completed in"Sand and gravel aquifers(glaciated I regions)"(N100GLCIAL)national aquifer. 4• Well completed in"DRIFT,STRATIFIED"(112DFSF) local aquifer 291 6 I AVAILABLE DATA FROM NWISWeb: Field ground-water-level measurements 291 711 Begin End 1p +!� Additional Data Sources Date Date Count Annual Water-Data Report(pdf) **offsite**2006 2006 1 &I Groundwater 1W Watch Help Page OPERATION: Record for this site is maintained by the USGS Connecticut Water Science Center - Email questions about this site to Connecticut Water Science Center Water-Data Inquiries Site Statistics A/0110 MMI-cTaw 04 Most recent data value: 10.18 on 1/26/2010 Period of Record Monthly Statistics for 414910072372101 e Ug Depth to water level,feet below land surface All Approved Continuous&Periodic Data Used In Analysis Note:Bold values in the table indicate closest statistic to the most recent data value. = Month Lowest 10th 25th 50th 75th 90th Highest Number Median %ile %ile %Ile %Ile %ile Median of Years Jan 15.22 13.47 12.21 11.40 10.42 9.37 6.85 65 a Feb 14.65 13.22 12.10 11.03 10.22 9.13 7.71 64 Mar 14.00 12.44 11.40 10.22 9.25 8.84 8.40 63 Apr 13.99 12.30 11.07 9.91 9.01 8.31 7.12 65 S May 14.12 12.43 11.38 10.33 9.43 9.12 8.32 60 Jun 14.30 12.75 11.76 10.89 10.26 9.47 8.08 65 Jul 14.61 13.18 12.21 11.52 11.15 10.03 8.69 62 14 Aug 14.85 13.51 12.47- 11.97 11.38 10.41 9.39 63 Sep 14.98 13.73 12.77 12.25 11.62 10.92 9.50 59 Oct 14.99 13.70 12.98 12.35 11.22 10.28 8.53 56 Nov 15.08 13.90 12.84 12.15 11.17 9.43 8.29 61 6Lr Mx iW JM J AM ftp Oct lbv the JAI fib Dec 15.17 13.66 12.82 11.41 10.56 9.40 8.08 64 7oM-79111 Mcwcbd021Rf/1611:47 ® Statistics Options View monthlyear statistics http://groundwaterwatch.usgs.gov/AWLSites.asp?S=414910072372101 2/10/2010 USGS -- Water Resources of the United States Page 2 of 2 B. .. 0rr1AMt �u �o.x n.n 3s-su >sa MiMMlyMit� Periodic Groundwater Data 41010723r2gi-eT49W M Summary for Period of Record Periodic Water Levels • USGS Depth to water level,feet below land surface 7 . Approved Periodic Water Level Values • E Begin Date End Date Number of Values * # • ;. . L t +;�. 10/01/34 01/26/10 999 g � .•: ±� : S� • . ;. Highest Date of Highest Lowest Date of Lowest i i1 it !r' i' :iZ WL - WL WL WL 10 g 6.85 01/25/06 15.22 01/26/66 M = : Groundwater Levels Options i12 - i ®View NWISWeb Groundwater levels page 13 t i s View annual monthly statistics for all data types Download Groundwater levels in text format 1S 7e 10 32 M 76 M 0p Tom M auft1:2901D 11A6 •PerkKftVVN1er1Jr#MMee&wwmt Accessibility FOIA Privacy Policies and Notices U.S. Department of the Interior iU.S.Geological Survey URL: http://groundwaterwatch.usgs.gov/AWLSites.asp Page Contact Information:OGW Webmaster Last update: Wednesday, December 16, 2009 at 15:05 http://groundwaterwatch.usgs.gov/AWLSites.asp?S=414910072372101 2/10/2010 USGS -- Water Resources of the United States Page 1 of 4 USGS Home Contact USGS Search USGS Groundwater Watch Site Number: 414910072372101 - CT-SW 64 DESCRIPTION: Latitude 41049'10", Longitude 72037'21" NAD27 Hartford County, Connecticut, Hydrologic Unit 01080205 Land surface altitude: 40.00 feet above sea level NGVD29. Well completed in "Sand and gravel aquifers (glaciated regions)" (N100GLCIAL) national aquifer. �* Well completed in "DRIFr,STRATIFIED" (112DFSF) local aquifer * i AVAILABLE DATA FROM NWISWeb: oilI' Field ground-water-level measurements 29-1 tl>a Additional Data Sources Begin End 291 Date Date Couni Annual Water-Data Report (pdf) **offsite** 2006 2006 1 ag% Groundwater Watch Help Page OPERATION: Record for this site is maintained by the USGS Connecticut Water Science Center Email questions about this site to Connecticut.Water Science Center Water-Data Inquiries Site Statistics Most recent data value: 10.18 on 1/26/2010 Period of Record Monthly Statistics for 414910072372101 Depth to water level, feet below land surface All Approved Continuous & Periodic Data Used In Analysis Note:Bold values in the table indicate closest statistic to the most recent data value. Month Lowest 10th 25th 50th 75th 90th Highest Number Median %ile %ile %ile %ile %ile Median of Years Jan 15.22 13.47 12.21 11.40 10.42 9.37 6.85 65 Feb 14.65 13.22 12.10 11.03 10.22 9.13 7.71 64 Mar 14.00 12.44 11.40 10.22 9.25 8.84 8.40 63 http://groundwaterwatch.usgs.gov/AWLSites.asp?S=414910072372101 2/10/2010 USGS --Water Resources of the United States Page 2 of 4 41010Ua 2"1-CT4W 84 Apr 13.99 12.30 11.07 9.91 9.01 8.31 7.12 65 6 May 14.12 12.43 11.38 10.33 9.43 9.12 8.32 60 us Tun 14.30 12.75 11.76 10.89 10,26 9.47 8.08 65 Sul 14.61 13.18 12.21 11.52 11.15 10.03 8.69 62 Aug 14.85 13.51 12.47 11.97 11.38 10.41 9.39 63 Sep 14.98 13.73 12.77 12.25 11.62 10.92 9.50 59 Oct 14.99 13.70 12.98 12.35 11.22 10.28 8.53 56 10 Nov 15.08 13.90 12.84 12.15 11.17 9.43 8.29 61 Dec 15.17 13.66 12.82 11.41 10.56 9.40 8.08 64 0 Statistics Options S 12 A View month/year statistics 1+1 16 Or Apr My J= Jed Aug Sep Oct Ibv On J= Fab -iID19 PbtanabdO MIM 11:47 -pffewdk apses Data PON <10 I0-24 25-71% m-90 >90 Periodic Groundwater Data Summary for Period of Record Periodic Water Levels Depth to water level, feet below land surface Approved Periodic Water Level Values Begin Date End Date Number of Values 10/01/34 01/26/10 999 Highest Date of Highest Lowest Date of Lowest WL WL WL WL 6.85 01/25/06 15.22 01/26/66 Groundwater Levels Options http://groundwaterwatch.usgs.gov/AWLSites.asp?S=414910072372101 2/10/2010 USGS --Water Resources of the United States Page 3 of 4 41+=10MM-CT48W 64 EM View NWISWeb Groundwater levels page 6 UiGs View annual monthly statistics for all data types 7 ' Download Groundwater levels in text format •. 9 ' + 06 12 FF r • .•. � • Y . . is 15 YMM Plot CNOW:39MM 11346 + P VVdw Levet Mee=z Accessibility FOIA Privacy Policies and Notices U.S. Department of the Interior IU.S. Geological Survey URL: http://groundwaterwatch.usgs.gov/AWLSites.asp ':.•.,� Page Contact Information: OGW Webmaster Last update: Wednesday, December 16, 2009 at 15:05 http://groundwaterwatch.usgs.gov/AWLSites.asp?S=414910072372101 2/10/2010 USGS -- Water Resources of the United States Page 4 of 4 http://groundwaterwatch.usgs.gov/AWLSites.asp?S=414910072372101 2/10/2010 `SVi� MEMORANDUM To: File Cc: Michael Gantick, P.E., Director of Public Works From: Jeffrey B. Doolittle, P.E., Town Engineer Date: 5/12/06 RE: 52 Gail Lane Drainage Complaint It was raining heavily all day today so I went out to 52 Gail Lane about 11:30 am to check out the surface drainage on this property and on 42 Gail Lane next to it. I called Mr Brazee and left a message and rang his door bell when I went out but no one answered. No one was home next door at 42 Gail Lane either. did not see any water flowing across the property line from 42 Gail Lane to 52 Gail Lane. The ground was wet but there were not puddles or soggy areas in either yard near the common property line. I did see some small puddles toward the middle of the back yard of 52 Gail Lane. The ground is irregular there and there are several small hills and depressions. One puddle was near the outlet of the sump pump hose from the house. There was water in the swale on the west and north side of the garage in the back of 42 Gail Lane. This water appeared to be slowly flowing down the back of 12 Nancy Drive, following the shallow swale there. There were some puddles of standing water on the east side of the garage in back of 42 Gail Lane but this water was not flowing toward 52 Gail Lane. There were no puddles or wet areas in front of the garage on 42 Gail Lane. Both yards were soaking up the water well and were mostly dry. ow" < Wn ap S.0 1540 SULLIVAN AVENUE•SOUTH WINDSOR,CT 06074-2786 AREA CODE 860/644-2511 FAX 860/644-3781 MATTHEW B.GALLIGAN Town Manager January 31,,2003 Mr. Steve Lewandowski 154 Gall Lane South Windsor, CT 06074 Dear Mr. Lewandowski: (;received your letter,dated-January-12, 2005,.concerning the issue of snow removal and the problem of.tlie.plow'putting snovri.back on the sidewalk. Unfortunately, when awe have these very large,storms with a-fiigh.accumulation of snow, it becomes very :difficult to plow and keep:the-snow,off the sidewalk. As you know, the snow shelf that is An-the Town Is°a very>small area,:bnd*when you have to plow to cut back the-road to prepare for the nett storm sorne:of-that snow ends up back on the sidewalk. :I have the same problem�where=l live,.and unfortunately, I have.to go out again and - : A::. shovel:my.sidewalk ln.order to keep::at clear. I have talked to the Superintendent of reet-Service&and the drivers-have been-asked to be even more conscious of this v:.problem. We._.have 135 smiles of road4hat we have to plow in.order to koep:them-safe --.for residents:' A have.observedAhe,plows:and even at a slower.speed, because the plows'are so big, they lockup snow<that is dispersed into the air out of our control. I:share-your frustration but`I-do_not=think`that where is anything we can.do differently at this point. I will ask the Director of Public Works to make the workers more cognizant of - ,--.-the fact that this.Is.a very big issue and if:there is any way to prevent or lessen it, it would be appreciated greatly by the residents of the community. will continue to monitor this Issue as we continue to do our best to improve this situation. Very truly yours, Matthew B. Galligan Town Manager MBG:ck cc: Michael J. Gantick, Director of Public Works J A N 14 2005 Town of South Windsor 1-12-05 1540 Sullivan Avenue mV:a:_:.• i.iUTH WINDSOR Mr. Matthew B. Galligan Town Manager Dear Mr. Galligan: I am writing this letter because phone calls to complain about snow plowing problems in this town fall on deaf ears. After talking with several residents of South Windsor, I discovered this is not a single issue. In fact,there are many dissatisfied residents. The issue is this: We remove the snow and ice from our properties and the snow plows put it back. The problem is that the snow plows put back a combination of snow, salt, sand and ice that cannot, in many cases, be removed with a snow blower. What they redeposit is several times heavier than what we removed and has become a hazard. I have injured my back three times in the past five years trying to remove what the town has but on my sidewalk. Today is the last time that is going to happen. We understand that the driveways have to be plowed in a few times and we are willing to remove that snow. However there is no need for the plows to be traveling so fast that they throw snow, ice and sand over our sidewalks and into our yards. Many of us have called several times to resolve this issue and nothing is ever done. For the past several years I have taken pictures of my property with the sidewalks totally cleared after the storm was over. I then take another picture of the sidewalks after the plow trucks have passed. The pictures clearly show that I lived up to my responsibility.of snow removal for each and every storm. The pictures also clearly show the aftermath of the snow removal effort and replacing the hard snow, ice, sleet and sand back over the sidewalks after they have already been cleaned. This has to be stopped and I am writing this letter to that end. I am sending a copy of this letter to my attorney and my insurance agent. I am also sending them copies of the before and after pictures of your snow removal efforts. I can no longer physically clean your problem and I refuse to be held liable for your lack of concern. I will continue to remove the initial snow from the storms, however any snow put back by the plows is going to be your problem. I am arming my insurance company with this information and if there is ever a law suit I intend to let them see who is responsible. Thank you in advance for your considerations and sincerely hope this issue is resolved. Kindest Regards Q- LurcL'�G• Steve Lewandowski CC: Richard Morelli Robert Everusto