Shaler Twp. Residents Continue Cleanup In Wake Of Latest Storms
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - Wednesday night's heavy rains created lots of problems.
In Shaler Township, drivers are still dealing with flooded streets, while residents are cleaning out their flooded basements.
"It gets worse every year," said Brian Trozzo, who's lived in Shaler for 15 years. "I've been through bad storms when I've gotten nothing in years' past. The last year, it has gotten worse and worse."
Trozzo says every time there is a heavy rainfall, his basement floods. He believes it's not the groundwater that gets inside his basement - it's sewer water.
"It all comes up through the sewer line," said Trozza. "The groundwater is not an issue. It's the sewer lines are being flooded with groundwater, because they're outdated, it's not a sealed system."
"I'm disappointed," said Nikki Trozzo, as she moved items around in her basement. "I mean, like this is ridiculous, no one should have to go through this several times. All of our things are ruined."
Shaler Township Manager Tim Rogers says this part of Shaler, where the Trozzos live, is a flood plain.
Rogers said the sewer system is relatively new, but when there is this much water, this quickly, flood plains will flood. More than two inches of rain fell in Shaler Township in less than an hour Wednesday afternoon.
Trozzo and his wife will spend the day cleaning their basement. They shared pictures with KDKA showing water bubbling up through a pipe in their basement and water on the basement floor.
The televisions the couple kept in the basement are ruined, and a recently-started drywall project will have to be redone.
"Everything in the basement is ruined, because it's all sewage water," said Brian Trozzo. "So, you have to try to remove anything you can and then scrub and try to get rid of any bacteria buildup that you can."
Along State Route 8 in Shaler, there was still standing water in the street, a day after the flash flooding. Drivers were forced to use one lane instead of two.
