Complaint Details

Complaint Number

125444

DWR Program Area

WPC

Date Received

1/31/2023

How Received

Ask TDEC

Concerning

Sewage Bypass / Overflow

Concerning (Other)

Assigned on

2/1/2023

Record Last Updated

10-FEB-2023 10:02AM

Site ID: 4913
Site: Nashville Central STP
Location: 1600 Second Avenue North
City: Nashville
Description: Treatment of municipal sewage and minimization of combined sewer overflow
County: Davidson
EFO Name: Nashville
Site Owner: Metropolitan Government - Metro Water Services

Status

Referred to other Agency

Date Investigated

2/1/2023

Responsible Party

Completed on

2/9/2023

Referred To

Leanna Scott - Metro Water Services

Referred on

2/1/2023

Photos

Complaint Description and Writeup

I have a problem with a clogged sewer line from Broadway Brewhouse/Mojo grill located at 1900 Broadway. I have contacted city to resolve the problem, city says it is not the main sewer line. Bar owner seems to keep putting off fixing the problem. Meanwhile the restaurant keeps taking the clean out cap off because the line is clogged, they do this because it would flood the inside and they would have to close down. The open sewer line is dumping raw sewage/food scraps/toilet paper into to alley, which runs into my back parking lot, through my property into the city alley then into the storm drain. My employees have to walk through this (shit) to get into the property. We have standing puddles of sewage in the back lot. We have been dealing with this for over two months. Please I need some help, I'm going to lose my staff if they keep having to walk and drive through this nastiness.

From Bill Penn, Metro Nashville Codes, February 1, 2023, "We’ve made an inspection and there is a violation. We have put the business on notice to correct the violation asap."

From Andy Welch, Metro Water Services, February 1, 2023. "I stopped by sometime after Bill left. It was probably around 2:15 PM. A plumber was onsite. Apparently they share a sewer service line with the property next door and the neighbor was opposed to the plumber digging on what the neighbor believes is his property. The plumber was trying to figure out a way to resolve or work around this problem. I also was approached by (source of complaint). He was appreciate of everyone’s responsiveness but anxious to have the problem resolved. I tried to assure him that the Codes Office (Bill) was doing everything they could.

Regarding the sewer overflow itself, it was actively overflowing when we were there because the cleanout was open. Based on what I saw, I expect that the complainant, is correct that the restaurant has to open it when operating to avoid backup into the store. The overflow is flowing into his back parking lot and is absorbed into the gravel in some places and puddles up on the property elsewhere. All of it is remaining on the property. That unfortunately means that there is nothing applicable in the Sewer Use Ordinance I can enforce in this case."

I went out and inspected this one initially. There was a clean out from 1900 Broadway (Broadway Brewhouse) that was overflowing into the alley. I talked to the manager(s) and they had their plumber contact me. The plumber ran a camera into the old clay pipe and found a broken piece laying in it, and determined this to be the problem. It is temporarily fixed and clean. He is pulling permits to dig up the alley and repair/replace the old pipe and feels confident that this will be a long term fix. Please let me know if you have any other questions.

Thanks,

Stokes Swann
Property Standards
Department of Codes and Building Safety

Complaint

Location based on SITE_ID

Investigation Results

Complaint Description and Writeup