Page 2 - PGA Community News - September '19

Page 2, PGA C.A.N.! September 2019 September 2019

Northern Notes from page 1

Too Deep To Drive? to settle out of the water. Ponding facilitates water quality downstream waters.
If during or after a rain event you arrive upon a roadway improvements through infiltration, filtration and sedimentary • Do not pave the swale — this reduces the filtration and
where you cannot determine the depth of the water in the street deposition. Collected stormwater is expected to drain away infiltration of runoff.
– for your own safety – do not drive down the street. Find an through the soil within several hours or days. When the swale • Do not park vehicles in the swale— this compacts the soil
alternate route. becomes full, the cleaner surface water will spill over the berm so less runoff soaks in. It also destroys the vegetation in the swale
Swales and slowly run into a local water body. Eventually, the remaining that is needed to filter the pollutants out of the water.
Chances are if you’ve lived in South Florida long enough, ponded water will either evaporate or infiltrate into the soil. • Do not alter the design of the swale. Any changes will
you’ve heard at least one person refer to a “swale.” A swale Maintain Proper Swales require a permit as they may affect drainage.
is a graded and engineered grassy area of land appearing as • Let water pond. Runoff should temporarily pond in the Please keep in mind that there is a direct link between what
a linear, shallow, open channel, that stretches from the edge swale for 24 to 36 hours, sometimes even up to 72 hours. we do around our home and the water quality of our canals,
of the sidewalk in front of homes (or the property line if there • Mow the swale but keep it at a good grass growth. Tall ponds, lakes and wetlands.
is no sidewalk) to the edge of the street. Swales are typically grass slows water movement. NPDES tip: It is important to never dump any debris,
vegetated with flood tolerant, erosion resistant plants. Swales • Remove and compost leaves and grass clippings from including but not limited to landscape waste, garbage or
are one of the most commonly used stormwater practices. For swales. chemicals into a storm sewer inlet. While bulky materials can
many years, swales have been used to direct runoff from rural • Minimize use of fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides cause flooding, chemicals and other wastes that are dumped
highways and residential streets. Today, swales not only direct within 50 feet of a swale. into a storm sewer eventually drain into lakes and canals, which
stormwater but also help filter runoff and reduce pollutants. • Do not pile garbage, trash, leaves, limbs or garden threaten fish and wildlife and pollute the water. Please check our
A swale slows down the rapid flow of stormwater runoff by debris in swales— this adds pollutants which can wash into website for information regarding illegal dumping.
ponding water between its sloping sides, often called berms. The
ponding not only slows the rate of flow but allows pollutants

Garage sales/

yard sales sales

are NOT allowed

in PGA National.

Editorial Board

Editor: James A. Cioffi
james@jcclaw.com
Feature Writers: Dawn Levinstein, POA
Commissioner Hal R. Valeche
O’Neal Bardin Jr.

Contributing
Reporter: Don Kiselewski
Your editors strongly believe that the number
of people who do become involved with any
news medium directly reflects on that medium’s
excellence, versatility and broad viewpoint.
Therefore, we invite PGA residents to contribute
articles or current, timely news items and/or
“Letters to the Editors.”
Articles/letters are subject to editing and editors’
right to publish. Submission must include writer’s
name, address and telephone number. Unsigned articles
/letters will not be published. Opposing views to article
viewpoints contained in this paper are welcome.
Articles do not necessarily represent the viewpoint
of the C.A.N.! organization. Submissions should
be mailed or delivered by the tenth of each month
for the following month’s publication (example: by
January 10 for February publication) to:
C.A.N.! Editors
Post Office Box 33436
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33420 or
Contact the publisher for additional information
regarding submissions, fax (561) 627-9088 or e-mail
canpga@yahoo.com.
Let’s hear from you.

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