A few weeks ago one of our readers, Jon Ribary, wrote in wondering about the water runoff at 7th and Bertona, an intersection he says has always been wet for the 9 years he’s lived in Queen Anne.

Originally Jon had been concerned with the freezing temperatures that left a sheet of ice on the road. However, in the meantime while SDOT has been working to figure out the cause of the water runoff, the weather has warmed up a bit – and gotten a little more wet. On the day Jon took this picture he wrote “There was actually running water coming out of the sidewalk…There are several places like that around (on 11th between Rufner and Emerson too. It would be great to know why.”

After weeks of back and forth with SDOT, Associate Transportation Planner Danté Taylor finally found the answer.

The water on the street at 7th Ave W and W Bertona St was determined to be groundwater. Groundwater springs occur naturally around the city and are common along hillsides. The water is normally captured at the nearest drainage inlet along with other runoff. There is little that SDOT can do to stop or control groundwater springs. Managing the flow in a location like 7th and Bertona would require an expensive underdrain system, likely spanning public and private property. A system like this would need to be periodically cleaned to continue functioning.

This is not a viable option given the cost, available funds, and Seattle’s backlog of over $300 million in deferred arterial street maintenance.

Although SDOT cannot afford to fix the groundwater springs under Queen Anne hill, Taylor noted that they can provide spot deicing. If you notice any ice forming on the roadway,  contact SDOT’s Charles Street 24-hour dispatcher at (206) 386-1218. In the meantime, drive carefully through intersections where groundwater is known to pool, especially in the rain.