A meeting scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 18, at West Hartford Town Hall, will provide the opportunity for residents impacted by a pipe blockage that resulted in a significant sewer back-up to discuss ‘next steps.’

By Ronni Newton

West Hartford Town Manager Matt Hart has notified all Linbrook Road area residents who were impacted by the Oct. 3 sewer back-up that the town and the Metropolitan District Commission (MDC) will meet with them on Thursday, Oct. 18 to respond to questions and discuss “next steps.”

The meeting will be held at 7 p.m., in Room 400 of West Hartford Town Hall.

The MDC has been working to resolve issues with homeowners ever since the lining of a 27-inch sewer pipe failed on Oct. 3, leading to a blockage and back-up of sewage into the roadway and the basements of 26 homes, mostly on Linbrook Road. As much as 30 inches of sewage water flooded a large portion of the roadway and lawns, and in some homes as much as 5 or 6 feet of sewage water backed up into their basements.

The lining that failed, which had been installed in about 300 feet of sewer pipe as part of a rehabilitation project to eliminate inflow and infiltration of ground water, will be replaced with an alternative material that has been rigorously tested, MDC spokesperson Kerry Martin said.

“Samples from a test section of the new liner were obtained and sent to the lab (Boyle Engineering in Charlotte, NC) for testing,” Martin said in an email Monday afternoon. “The samples will be tested for flexural and tensile strength, as well as thickness.” She said that the results of the tests are expected Tuesday, and if they are positive the new liner will be installed on Wednesday or Thursday.

Bypass pumps remain in place, diverting the sewage from the pipe with the damaged liner, and will remain in use and operated by the MDC’s contractor, Ludlow Construction, until repairs are complete.

The insurance adjuster for the lining subcontractor, Precision Trenchless LLC, has been working with homeowners on their claims, Martin said.

The MDC has also performed sewer backup prevention assessments and is installing check valves or backwater valves in area homes that have fixtures below grade level. “The specific plumbing set up and fixtures/appliances in the basement determine whether check valves or backwater vales are appropriate, but both accomplish the same goal – to prevent sewer water from flowing back into a property through subsurface fixtures,” Martin said in her email.

The MDC is also installing sump pumps and other prevention devices, and has hired contractors to repair and/or replace mechanical systems, including hot water heaters, boilers, and gas furnaces that were damaged due to the sewage backup.

The MDC has established a page on its website with updates on the situation in the Linbrook Road area. 

Residents of the Linbrook Road area are able to submit specific questions or comments in advance, by Tuesday, to The MDC District Clerk, John Mirtle, Esq. at [email protected].

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