Page 17 - Abacoa Community News - September '19

Abacoa, Page 17
Northern Notes

Streets, Swales And likely to last. If the system in your neighborhood is runoff by ponding water between its sloping sides, often
working properly, levels will return to normal soon after
called berms. The ponding not only slows the rate of
Stormwater Management the rain has stopped. A heavier, more widespread and flow but allows pollutants to settle out of the water.
longer-lasting storm will require more time for local, Ponding facilitates water quality improvements through
By O’Neal Bardin, Jr., secondary and regional systems to absorb the excess infiltration, filtration and sedimentary deposition.
Executive Director, water. Because these flood control systems are connected, Collected stormwater is expected to drain away through
Northern Palm Beach what’s happening upstream or downstream from your the soil within several hours or days. When the swale
County Improvement neighborhood also has an impact. becomes full, the cleaner surface water will spill over the
District Keep It Clear berm and slowly run into a local water body. Eventually,
Streets Many stormwater blockages in streets occur due to the remaining ponded water will either evaporate or
Streets are an clogged storm sewer inlets. If there is an inlet in the street infiltrate into the soil.
important part of Northern adjacent to your home, residents are asked to keep this Maintain Proper Swales
Palm Beach County drain clear of all obstructions including leaves, grass and • Let water pond. Runoff should temporarily pond in
Improvement District’s debris. Debris at storm sewer inlets also build up after the swale for 24 to 36 hours, sometimes even up to 72
overall Stormwater a storm event, which is a good time to check the inlet hours.
Management System. Both to make sure that the system will work well in the next • Mow the swale but keep it at a good grass growth.
the storm sewers located storm. Tall grass slows water movement.
below the street, ditches or swales located along the street, Too Deep To Drive? • Remove and compost leaves and grass clippings from
and the roadway itself serve to convey stormwater to If during or after a rain event you arrive upon a swales.
designed locations. At times blockages can occur, which roadway where you cannot determine the depth of the • Minimize use of fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides
can cause undesired flooding conditions that may cause water in the street – for your own safety – do not drive within 50 feet of a swale.
roads to become impassable. It is important to understand down the street. Find an alternate route. • Do not pile garbage, trash, leaves, limbs or garden
the basics of how streets are used to convey stormwater, Swales debris in swales— this adds pollutants which can wash
in order to identify when problems may occur. Chances are if you’ve lived in South Florida long into downstream waters.
Streets And Stormwater Management enough, you’ve heard at least one person refer to a • Do not pave the swale — this reduces the filtration
Many streets are designed and built with curb and “swale.” A swale is a graded and engineered grassy area and infiltration of runoff.
gutter along the street and with storm sewers underneath of land appearing as a linear, shallow, open channel, that • Do not park vehicles in the swale— this compacts the
the pavement. The curbs and gutters direct stormwater stretches from the edge of the sidewalk in front of homes soil so less runoff soaks in. It also destroys the vegetation
from the pavement into the storm sewers. These storm (or the property line if there is no sidewalk) to the edge in the swale that is needed to filter the pollutants out of
sewers not only collect water from the roadway, but also of the street. Swales are typically vegetated with flood the water.
connect to other drainage systems to collect water from tolerant, erosion resistant plants. Swales are one of the • Do not alter the design of the swale. Any changes
yards and subdivisions and transport the stormwater to most commonly used stormwater practices. For many will require a permit as they may affect drainage.
lakes, canals and other outlets. years, swales have been used to direct runoff from rural Please keep in mind that there is a direct link between
Did you know that in very heavy rains, some water highways and residential streets. Today, swales not only what we do around our home and the water quality of our
standing in streets or swales is part of the flood control direct stormwater but also help filter runoff and reduce canals, ponds, lakes and wetlands.
design plan and is expected? Your neighborhood lake’s pollutants. NPDES tip: It is important to never dump any debris,
water level may seem to rise alarmingly, but that’s not A swale slows down the rapid flow of stormwater including but not limited to landscape waste, garbage or
chemicals into a storm sewer inlet. While bulky materials
can cause flooding, chemicals and other wastes that are
Advertise in This Newspaper! Call 561.746.3244 dumped into a storm sewer eventually drain into lakes and
canals, which threaten fish and wildlife and pollute the
water. Please check our website for information regarding
illegal dumping.

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