The City Paper reports on a two month delay in the opening of the H Street Country Club. The issue is that WASA needs to collect a water pressure test, but apparently no inspector is available to conduct the test for about 8 weeks. The owners offered to hire a private inspector to conduct the test, but WASA wouldn't bite.
One of the exasperated owners pointed out the following-
1. A flow test was completed in 2007. The results of this test were adequate enough for the Fire Marshall to issue us a permit to install our sprinkler system.
2. WASA has had the opportunity to bring this requirement to our attention for weeks - weeks we could have been using to conduct such new flow test, saving everyone a substantial amount of time and money.
3. We are willing to pay for an independent test to meet the latest WASA requirement. So we have contacted an engineering firm, which can do an the test within one day, but WASA refuses saying they must do the test with their people and equipment.
12 comments:
Where the hell is Wells when he's needed? The city really needs to put a choke chain on WASA.
It's hard to believe that city officials aren't willing to help in cases like these. What person in his/her right mind would want to invest in DC if organizations like WASA constantly put up obsticles? This is counter to what is needed to attract more businesses to the district. Shameful!
The first comment raises the right point. Councilman Wells should be raising hell right now, given what a joke the city bureaucracy has become.
I think the prudent thing to do is to email Councilperson Wells to bring this to his attention so he can investigate this matter further. That's what I'm going to do.
Tommy Wells e-mail is:
twells@dccouncil.us
You can also send a complaint to the mayors office at the dc.gov website.
I've already sent an e-mail to both Wells and the mayors office.
Everybody please do the same!!
Wells is even on the Department of Public Works Committee with direct oversight of WASA! Email him. WASA is taking such an insulting approach to the very people who pay their salaries... nothing new there, unfortunately.
I guess the owners didn't bribe the right person.
This is a business that is waiting to open but now can't because WASA can't do the inspection they need to do for TWO MONTHS! This is crazy! Where is Councilman Wells? I'm surprised he's not on top of this one! Doesn't he have his community mtg. on H St. this week, either SOVA or Sidamos?
After I read this, found out I'm in the same (well, similar) boat.
Had my water service line replaced, but my contractor told me that there is no DC inspector available for two weeks, so my yard and basement remain dug up until then.
Why are you surprised Wells isn't "on top of this one"? Wells has consistently underwhelmed or disappointed me.
Joe Englert said:
Tommy Wells, Charles Allen and his staff have come through for us. WASA did a flow test this weekend. Hopefully, they will be just as prompt inspecting our building materials so we can complete the job and open on time.
Tommy's staff has come through several times for us before, too. I think Tommy is a very good person. I wish more in the city government cared so much about the people living here.
Thanks Joe Englert for chiming in with a businessman's perspective. I can only imagine that getting such approval is very difficult. It's great to hear Councilmember Wells' office has been so helpful. I have to say that this echoes what I have heard about him and his staff really reaching out to folks on H Street. Hopefully the issues at hand will be resolved quickly. I don't think that anyone around here wants to see potential tax dollars, or time, wasted.
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