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Homeowner frustrated after clogged storm drain floods street

Posted at 9:21 PM, Jun 24, 2019
and last updated 2019-06-25 15:05:45-04

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) - — It’s been a problem for months, and one South Nashville homeowner says she’s getting tired of seeing flooding by her house.

Every time it rains, she said a clogged storm drain causes flooding along her street and in her yard.

“It just looks like a river,” said Sandra Poston, who has lived on Valeria Street for 30 years. “The water goes over my patio and down the side of my house. It’s a brown, muddy river.”

Poston has been taking photos of the damage ever since the problem started in February. She says the water levels get so high in the street it is dangerous for people driving through the neighborhood.

“If a car comes down and hits that water and hydroplanes, they could hit trees or this telephone pole.” said Poston. “It could kill someone.”

Poston said she is worried about the long-term impact on her home. She said the water washes away top soil by her house and floods her septic tank.

Poston said she has reached out to Metro Water Services several times for help. She said crews did come out and add concrete along the storm drain, and replace the top soil by her house that washed away. However, she says they need to clear out the storm drain to fix the problem.

“It’s been four months,” said Poston. “It shouldn’t take that long to clean out a storm drain.”

A spokesperson for Metro Water Services said the complaint was initially investigated on April 8. Crews determined they needed to redefine the roadside ditch from the cross drain pipe down the street and flush and clean the storm drain and pipes. However, the work had to be rescheduled for August 8 due to weather and equipment failure.

"Nashville experienced the wettest February on record, leading to an increase in stormwater service requests and with the current rains, calls have not declined," said Sonia Allman, Manager of Strategic Communications for Metro Water Services. "Crews have been extremely busy and attempt to address concerns and perform necessary maintenance and repairs as quickly as possible."