Sewer Collapse Disrupts German Village Life

Columbus Water and Power said on May 27 that an underground sewer collapse in German Village had triggered street flooding, road closures and a temporary building evacuation after residents reported water problems days earlier. The utility said its Sewer Maintenance Operations Center began receiving calls on May 22 about flooding along South 3rd Street. Crews then opened a manhole in South Pearl Alley, just south of East Livingston Avenue, and found that the sewer below had collapsed. The failed section is about 30 feet underground and carries flow to the Jackson Pike Water Reclamation Facility. ### How was the collapse discovered if it was underground? May 22 is the date Columbus Water and Power said the problem first surfaced, when reports of street flooding began coming in from the area around South 3rd Street. According to the utility, crews traced the issue to South Pearl Alley and confirmed that the sewer below the manhole had failed. (10tv.com) South Pearl Alley is where the collapse left an underground void, Columbus Water and Power said. The utility said the void is primarily beneath the alley, but nearby properties were affected enough that one building's tenants were temporarily evacuated while crews evaluated structural integrity. (10tv.com) ### Which streets are closed, and how long could this last? Livingston Avenue from High Street to City Park Avenue, Pearl Street from Livingston Avenue to Blenker Street, and Brewers Street from High Street to Pearl Street are closed during the repair work, Columbus Water and Power said. The city also opened City Park Avenue to two-way traffic from Livingston Avenue to Blenker Street to manage detours through the neighborhood. (10tv.com) Four to six weeks is the repair timeline Columbus Water and Power gave on May 27. That estimate means residents and businesses in the historic neighborhood could face closures and traffic changes into late June or early July, based on the city's stated schedule. ### Why did a sewer that old fail now? (10tv.com) The collapsed sewer was "nearly a century old," Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther said, and the city had seen "unprecedented amounts of rain" before the failure. Ginther said there had been "no indication beforehand" that the line would fail in the way it did. (10tv.com) 2012 was the last inspection date for the failed section, according to Columbus Water and Power. The utility said the line scored highly for structural integrity at that time and was not scheduled for another inspection until 2032. ### What has daily life looked like for people nearby? (10tv.com) German Village resident Gered Bowman told 10TV that repeated rain had made the flooding visible before the collapse was identified. "I noticed when it was continuously raining, Third Street was flooding," Bowman said, adding that a neighbor's apartment flooded and the tenant had to move out. (10tv.com) One evacuated building and multiple closed streets do not capture all of the disruption, according to Bowman's account. He said seeing a neighbor displaced left him hoping the same thing would not happen again. ### What are crews doing while the sewer is out of service? Temporary pipes and pumps are bypassing the collapsed section so wastewater can keep moving to the Jackson Pike Water Reclamation Facility, Columbus Water and Power said. (10tv.com) The utility said crews were working around the clock as they assessed the void and planned the permanent repair. Residents who believe the collapse damaged their property can contact Columbus Water and Power's claims section by phone or email, the utility said. The city has not announced a final repair date, but its public estimate remains four to six weeks from the May 27 announcement, with structural reviews and traffic controls continuing in German Village. (10tv.com)