Mon Valley Sewage Authority: Monessen resident seeks help with flooding

By JEFF STITT

jstitt@yourmvi.com

A Monessen resident asked the Mon Valley Sewage Authority board Monday to seek a resolution for a recurring flooding issue he’s been dealing with on the Eastgate side of Donner Avenue.

Philip Mandarino, who lives near Frank’s Garage and works there, said that for at least a year, he’s been intermittently experiencing flooding at and outside of his residence and workplace when heavy rain storms come through town. During at least one flooding event, water came through drains and sinks in his basement.

Mandarino said he recently gave a letter to the sewage authority board about the problem, but received no response. He said he has also reached out to general manager Tom Salak multiple times to find a resolution.

“Every time I call you, you come out. You try,” Mandarino said to Salak.

Though he didn’t indicate when the work was done, Salak said an MVSA crew, with help from the Monessen street department, previously scoped the sewer lines in that area of Donner Avenue using a camera truck. At the time, MVSA crews determined the flooding issue was being caused by a problem with a city-owned sewer line.

After the lines were scoped, MVSA collaborated with the city street department, which used its jet truck to clear debris from a sewage line that was clogged and suspected of causing the flooding, Salak said, adding that the effort resulted in the flooding problem ceasing for a time. 

Mandarino said that during a recent storm, the flooding occurred again. 

This time, a sewage authority-owned manhole cover in the corner of the Frank’s Garage parking lot became dislodged, spewing water into the street and parking lot, he said, before a sewage authority worker eventually placed the manhole cover back on the manhole. 

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