A weekend deluge turned parts of Washington Township in Fayette County into a sewage-soaked cleanup zone, as heavy storms overwhelmed the municipal sewer system and pushed raw sewage into several basements. On Linn Drive, neighbors said water climbed to knee height in some homes and up to six feet in others, ruining belongings, damaging appliances and knocking out heat and hot water.
Residents describe sewage rising through drains and ruined basements
According to WTAE, residents including Jeff Roberts described the property damage as a "total loss," while neighbor Rich Planey said sewage surged up through floor drains before water reached his knees. The station reports that the municipal authority has scheduled a public meeting for Tuesday, July 28 at 6 p.m. to address the flooding and outline next steps. Families told the station that basements were submerged up to six feet, leaving finished spaces and major appliances destroyed as cleanup crews and homeowners begin the long slog of recovery.
Authority posts plans and progress reports online
On its website, the Municipal Authority maintains a public Sewer Corrective Action Plan with progress reports dating back to 2019. The documents lay out projects the authority says are intended to cut down on backups and detail recent work in affected service areas. Meeting agendas and notices are posted online so residents can track what is being discussed before public sessions and decide when to show up and speak out.
Older pipes and recurring flood risks
Neighbors told WTAE that a sewer pipe along the problem stretch was replaced roughly eight years ago and that similar backups swamped the neighborhood in 2018. That history has residents openly demanding accountability and concrete fixes to keep raw sewage out of their homes during future storms. County planning documents also highlight flooding as a recurring hazard in parts of Fayette County, underscoring how heavy rain can quickly overwhelm aging infrastructure; see the regional context laid out in the Fayette County Hazard Mitigation Plan.
How residents can follow up
Township supervisors have urged residents to contact the township secretary and the Municipal Authority with reports, photos and cleanup receipts, according to the authority's public postings. Residents can find meeting notices and contact details on the authority's meeting page and are being encouraged to attend the July 28 session to push for a clearer timeline on repairs and any potential reimbursements; see the meeting notices at Municipal Authority meeting notices.
