Jeannette VFW, water authority in long dispute over basement leak
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For the last year, Jeannette VFW Post 8240 Commander Frank Drury has spent two hours a week pumping water out of the flooded sub-basement of the club at 111 South 4th St.
“Right now, I estimate that we’ve pumped more than 367,800 gallons since August 2019,” Drury said. “That’s with our pump capable of pumping 55 gallons a minute, and we pump every bit of that into the storm drain in the alley.
“It’s really frustrating to have to do that all the time.”
Drury said, over the last 10 months, club members have been trying to work with the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County to locate the source of water. He has a writing pad filled with notes he took from various meetings, inspections and telephone conversations with authority officials.
“First off, the water is completely clear, doesn’t smell or leave stains in the street,” Drury said.
So, after the VFW couldn’t find any leaks in it’s 120-plus year-old building last summer when a hot water heater fell through the former, deteriorated basement floor, it reached out to the authority for answers. It also spent more than $5,000 on a new wooden basement floor erected above the deteriorated one, bought a new water heater and installed the sump pump.
“When they first came in last year, the inspector said it was definitely their (the water authority’s) problem after looking at it,” Drury said.
Last December, Drury said the authority reported a water leak had been fixed at a the now defunct former PNC Bank at the corner of South 4th and Clay Avenue and it should help.
“But we still had water,” Drury said.
Since then, there have been more meetings and inspections.
“One inspector said it was mine water, but Jeannette has no mines. And, now, they are saying it’s groundwater, and that it’s our problem,” Drury said. “I’m just tired of the run around.”
Authority spokesman Matthew Junker confirmed that the authority believes the leak originates from groundwater.
“Since a test in November, all subsequent tests have shown that it’s groundwater present in the building. The test in November was inconclusive, but a nearby leak was tracked down and repaired in December,” Junker said.
In appreciation of the VFW members’ military service, Junker noted authority employees have made several trips to the club to assist with the officers’ efforts.
“Since then, the absence of a disinfectant and phosphate indicate the water sampled from the VFW did not originate at either of our water treatment plants. The presence of high levels of iron and manganese indicate the same, and also point to groundwater with either some mining or industrial influence to the water,” Junker said.
In response to the pumped water being clear and without smell, Junker said “ground water generally is clear.”
Drury said he doesn’t believe it’s groundwater.
“We’ve had a drought for two months now, and the water is still coming in at the same rate and hasn’t slowed at all. It’s ridiculous,” he said.
VFW First Vice Commander Tim Brennan concurred.
“The authority keeps changing their story after telling us it is their water,” he said.
Brennan and Drury said that they’ve also reached out to area legislators and county commissioners for help but to no avail.
“Look, I’m just tired of people passing the buck and want to look out for the investment the members here have put in time, effort and money into this building,” Drury said.