Issues loom for residents after flooding from water-main break

STEVE OLESZEK eyed the steady stream of water pooling in front of his Southwest Center City rowhouse July 22 and tried to think positive thoughts.

"Well, it stopped at the curb at first," he said, "so I naively thought, 'I'll be fine.' "

But then the sidewalk started to buckle, and his basement began to fill with water.

What Oleszek, 60, didn't know at that moment was that a 48-inch water main had cracked open at 21st and Bainbridge streets, a block south of his home on Kater Street.

The rupture flooded the surrounding neighborhood with 20 million gallons of water, city officials said, leaving the basements and belongings of about six dozen nearby residents in ruin.

Last week, City Councilman Kenyatta Johnson and others reminded residents affected by the flood that they face a Jan. 22 deadline to file a claim with the city for damages.

Mark McDonald, Mayor Nutter's spokesman, said that about 60 claims have been filed. It could take up to nine months for them to be processed, he said.

Under state law, the city's liability is capped at $500,000. If the claims exceed that figure, the case would be referred to Common Pleas Court, McDonald said. A judge then would decide how to divide the repayments.

Bruce Amos, 65, of 21st Street near Kater, said that he spent about $40,000 gutting and rebuilding his basement kitchen and dining room, which took on about 20 inches of water.

"There's no question the [neighborhood damages] will be well above $500,000," Amos said. "Hopefully, we'll get a good settlement."

Johnson said that state legislators should consider increasing the repayment cap, set more than 30 years ago.

"In this day and age, $500,000 isn't a lot of money when you're talking about the kind of damage that was done to people's homes," he said.

"It's important that they be made whole, as much as possible."

Residents who lost photos and family heirlooms are unlikely to receive compensation, Johnson said.

Andrew Dalzell, programs coordinator for the South of South Neighborhood Association, said that residents have been patient with the ongoing recovery from the water-main break, which took three months for the Water Department, PGW and Peco Energy Co. to repair.

"People don't like uncertainty. It can lead to anger and fear," Dalzell said. "The city's response has been really excellent. They've been honest and empathetic."

" @dgambacorta