Bethesda residents want WSSC to "drain the swamp" their contractor created on their properties (Photos)

This morning's torrential downpour and a WSSC contractor's staging area conspired to create a literal swamp in adjacent yards near Bethesda Country Club. Today's deluge wasn't the first problem caused by the staging area, which is located at 7731 Bradley Boulevard. Neighbors have complained to the utility and to the Montgomery County Council, to no avail so far.

The staging area has been in place for WSSC's Bradmoor Drive 20" water main replacement project since August 15, 2016. That project, which involves replacing more than a mile of iron water main, is not expected to be completed before September 2018. Last summer, residents say, dust from the staging area was a problem, as well as flooding of adjacent property, and noise. Those issues have continued.

Neighbors have asked that the staging area, which they say they received no advance notice of, be relocated. In a letter from WSSC to one resident, the utility says their contractor decides where the staging area for a project will be located. For this project, WSSC's Deputy General Manager for Operations Joseph Mantua wrote that the contractor, A&M Concrete, has scouted other locations, and has found none large enough to accommodate it. Mantua added that the County Department of Permitting Services has expressed concerns over other possible locations, stating that the impacts would be too great on nearby schools, traffic and residential areas.

Of course, that leaves residents near the current staging area wondering why those concerns aren't protecting them. "Someone has to explain to me why the county is not protecting us from such things and who will pay for clean up," one resident wrote this morning of the "river of mud," and the mess it has caused. "[W]hy is THIS NEIGHBORHOOD of LESS IMPORTANCE than other neighborhoods !!!!" another resident wrote to Councilmember Roger Berliner's office. "Why is OUR PEACE LESS IMPORTANT than other neighborhoods ????"

For its part, WSSC told the resident, the utility has made several site visits, and proclaimed everything to be peachy-keen. WSSC "found no issues with cleanliness, traffic impacts and/or safety," Mantua wrote. They promised the contractor would screen off the side of the staging area facing Bradley Boulevard, but that's not the side that presents and eyesore to residents currently. Mantua said the contractor has promised to not start before 7:00 AM, but residents say that wasn't among the problems they've been complaining about.

Mantua wrote that if the staging area is moved, it would have to be broken up into smaller staging areas around the neighborhood. The locations of those potential smaller sites are unknown at this time.

Neighbors are growing frustrated with the lack of response by WSSC and the County Council. "This is INSANE!" one said. Well, we know the Council spent some hours in a catered luncheon at taxpayer expense this week...