Flooded by 2012 Philly water main break, still looking for help

A Philadelphia City Councilman is trying to help out residents who were flooded out two years ago. 

In July of 2012 a 48 inch water main ruptured at 21st and Bainbridge streets causing close to $2 million in damage.   However state law caps the city’s liability at only $500,000.

Councilman Kenyatta Johnson says even though PECO voluntarily took only about 28 percent of the money it could claim, only about 60 percent of damages to homes could be paid before the cap maxed out.

“Their homes weren’t damaged by no fault of their own, and so over the last two years we have been working very aggressively to make sure these constituents I represent are made whole,” he said.

Johnson says it would cost $400,000 to cover all the damage. Even if approved by council, he admits the Nutter administration does not have to award it to the residents.

“Because at the end of the day their homes were damaged by no fault of their own. As their councilperson my job is to advocate as aggressively and to the best of my ability to make them whole, we’ll go from there.” 

A spokesman for the Nutter administration says the request will be addressed if and when it comes up for a hearing.