Forensic Investigation of Backyard Landslide with a Sewer in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania
This article has a reply.
VIEW THE REPLYThis article has a reply.
VIEW THE REPLYPublication: Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 35, Issue 4
Abstract
In a southern suburb of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (PA), a portion of a housing development was constructed in the 1950s on an unrecognized, marginally stable prehistoric landslide mass. Grading practices of that era included placement of poorly compacted fill over a sanitary sewer behind houses on the downslope side of a street across the upslope part of the prehistoric landslide mass. A shallow landslide developed in fill and near-surface colluvium (old landslide debris). This shallow landslide was fully active by 1973 and continued to move, at least intermittently, thereafter. Landslide movements observed by a homeowner behind his house circa 2003–2004 led him to sue the Municipality, alleging that sewer leakage had caused the landslide. A detailed forensic investigation with heavy emphasis on observational engineering geology, including but not limited to historical aerial photographs and high-quality sewer inspection videotapes, clearly showed that the sewer was not leaking in the landslide area. Rather, the sewer was acting as a drain to reduce groundwater levels, thereby improving stability of the landslide.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or drawings that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
Caitlyn Martin, ASCE Editorial Coordinator, assisted significantly with the mechanics of paper submission. Two anonymous reviewers suggested improvements to the manuscript. Max Winn, University of Pittsburgh graduate student, redrew and enhanced the figures.
References
Ackenheil, A. C. 1954. “A soil mechanics and engineering geology analysis of landslides in the area of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.” Ph.D. dissertation, Dept. of Geology, Univ. of Pittsburgh.
Adams, W. R., Jr. 1986. “Landsliding in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania—Characteristics, causes and cures.” Ph.D. dissertation, Dept. of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Univ. of Pittsburgh.
ASTM. 1992. Standard test method for standard penetration test (SPT) and split-barrel sampling of soils. ASTM D1586-92. West Conshohocken, PA: ASTM.
Briggs, R. P., J. S. Pomeroy, and W. E. Davies. 1975. Landsliding in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Washington, DC: USGS.
Davies, W. E. 1974. Landslide susceptibility map of part of the Bridgeville 7-1/2 minute Quadrangle, Allegheny County and Vicinity, Pennsylvania. Washington, DC: USGS.
Delano, H. L., and J. P. Wilshusen. 2001. Landslides in Pennsylvania. Harrisburg, PA: Pennsylvania Geological Survey.
Hamel, J. V. 1980. “Geology and slope stability in western Pennsylvania.” Bull. Assoc. Eng. Geol. 17 (1): 1–26.
Hamel, J. V., and W. R. Adams, Jr. 2000. “Engineering geology for the new millennium: Stick with the basics.” J. Nepal Geol. Soc. 22: 257–268.
Hamel, J. V., and H. F. Ferguson. 1999. “Landsliding.” Chap. 48 in The geology of Pennsylvania, edited by C. H. Shultz, 704–711. Harrisburg, PA: Pennsylvania Geological Survey.
Pomeroy, J. S. 1982. Landslides in the greater Pittsburgh region. Washington, DC: USGS.
Sowers, G. F. 1979. Introductory soil mechanics and foundations: Geotechnical engineering. 4th ed. 571–572. New York: Macmillan.
Varnes, D. J. 1978. “Slope movement types and processes.” Chap. 2 in Landslides: Analysis and control, edited by R. L. Schuster and R. J. Krizek, 26–28. Washington, DC: National Academy of Sciences.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
© 2021 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Aug 3, 2020
Accepted: Dec 11, 2020
Published online: Apr 19, 2021
Published in print: Aug 1, 2021
Discussion open until: Sep 19, 2021
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.