Pee-ew!

[miss-chance.livejournal.com]

Hey, has anyone else noticed that Davis Square stinks?

I don't mean that metaphorically. I mean, really. For the past few nights, when I've walked into the Square for ice-cream, there's been this terrible sewage/garbage stench in the air. It seems to be much worse by the storm-drains, especially the one by the water fountain in front of J.P. Licks. Tonight we couldn't even sit there to eat our ice-cream it was so nasty.

I guess I'll give D.P.W. a call tomorrow when I can get a break at work, but I was just wondering if anyone else had noticed?

Also, does the relevant Alderperson have reliable e-mail contact? Is an alderbeing even the right person to talk to?

Comments

[ariwriter.livejournal.com]

Nothing wrong with an old system if it works.

[artic-monkeys.livejournal.com]

But it does not work. It is broken in many places and homeowners here "own the line from their house out to main line in the middle of the street". I guess that might be different in other towns where it is more like the gas lines that are maintained by the gas company or city. Many homeowners found out the hard way and have had to pay a lot to have it fixed(this I heard from a local drain guy that came to clear out our main pipe to the street). Also, it is broken in many areas. Water from the sewer should never spill over into the drainage systems or the other way around. I suppose some of the reason for that is that a lot of houses funnel their gutters and bilge pumps into the sewer system causing it to overload in a heavy rain storms. But there is also parts of the city that have really bad sewers and drainage systems that need to be fixed. It is going to cost Somerville a lot of money. Here some older information on it. (http://www.ci.somerville.ma.us/newsDetail.cfm?instance_id=117)

[miss-chance.livejournal.com]

Define "works" in the context of the original content of this post, if you please?

[artic-monkeys.livejournal.com]

"Works" is relative I guess, for me, the drainage backs up into my basement when there is a flash flood. I am sure it is probably mixed with some sewage. If your only problem with it is the smell then it may work for you. Or if you have not smelled it then it I am sure it works. Others may want to be aware of this information though. If you get any more information from the city please share it.

There is a phenomenom in the third world know as flying toilets (http://www.villagevoice.com/books/0508,westcott,61281,10.html), I guess even that works for people in some places.