Page 21 - Southern Exposure - March '23
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Southern Exposure, Page 21



                                                                northern noteS




                                                            Know The Flow




                                   By Katie Roundtree, Director of Finance and Administration, Northern Palm Beach County Improvement District

        Flood control in Florida                        yard swales and streets. The excess surface water slowly   What Can You Do To Help?
      is a shared responsibility that                   drains to community lakes or on-site ponds via street and
      provides maximum benefit                          yard drainage grates, swales, ditches or canals. Water then   Residents And Business Owners
      only when all components                          drains from the community or “tertiary” system through     ○ Make sure drainage gates, ditches and swales in your
      (primary, secondary and                           underground pipes to the “secondary” system, in this   neighborhood are clear of debris.
      tertiary) are designed and                        area mainly operated by Northern Palm Beach County     ○ Remove loose items, including yard debris, from your
      constructed to work together                      Improvement District (Northern) or the city or county.   yard. Debris and litter can clog storm drains and cause
      and are maintained in proper                      Maintenance and upkeep of community drainage facilities   flooding.
      working order. Florida is                         are typically the responsibility of homeowner associations.    ○ Check your community retention pond or lake for
      more complex than many                              The “secondary” drainage system is usually a network of   obstructed pipes and contact the appropriate authority for
      states, where one entity                          canals, structures, pumping stations and storage areas. These   removal (could be your HOA, city, county, or local drainage
      is usually responsible for                        systems can cover several hundred square miles and serve   district).
      providing local and regional drainage for the community.   many communities. In communities maintained by Northern,     ○  Find  out  who  is  responsible  for  drainage  in  your
      Some areas have no formal drainage systems and are prone   storm water systems are gravity-fed or pumped using storm   community. Visit SFWMD.gov/FloodControl.
      to routine flooding; others may be covered by several   water pump stations. Water moves through a series of lakes   Homeowner Association Officials
      organizations or governments providing varying service   and canals via weirs (fixed structures), operable gates and     Familiarize yourself with your particular drainage system
      levels. Depending on conditions, water may have to be   pump stations. These systems move water through multiple   and how it fits into the overall south Florida drainage picture.
      routed through several interconnected, though independent,   communities at times, so the “downstream” effects must be   Specifically, learn how the system works and how to maintain
      conveyance systems – each of which must be properly   considered when moving water from one area to another. The   the facilities under your responsibility properly.
      maintained and functioning – to provide flood protection for   storm water systems discharge into local canals managed     Report the location and condition of any clogged or
      south Florida neighborhoods.                      by either Northern or other municipalities. Northern uses a   damaged facilities to the proper authority (homeowner
        So, what path does storm water typically follow from your   telemetry system to monitor and remotely open and close   association, city, county or local drainage district, or the
      neighborhood to its final destination? Here’s an example. Five   gates and pumps. Weather conditions and water levels are   South Florida Water Management District) in advance of
      inches of rain falls in 24 hours over an inland community.   monitored around the clock. These systems discharge water   and during the summer rainy season. Please make a note of
      This rain follows                                 in the “primary” flood control system as long as carrying   important telephone numbers and keep them handy.
      a  wet period,                                    capacity is available.                               NPDES tip: Your neighborhood drainage system is not a
      so groundwater                                      Finally, the water flows to the “primary” drainage system   garbage disposal – don’t treat it like one. Encourage residents
      levels are already                                operated by the South Florida Water Management District   to take responsibility and to not dump chemicals, fertilizer,
      high. According                                   (SFWMD) or other natural waterways. Floodgates may be   paint, oil, etc. in inlets or pipes. Discourage sweeping of
      to most approved                                  opened, and water levels might be lowered in anticipation of   lawn clippings and dirt into street drains and disposing of
      drainage designs,                                 heavy rains to accommodate direct rainfall and inflows from   lawn clippings and other debris (wood, concrete blocks,
      some water is                                     the “secondary” systems. During and after heavy rains, excess   Christmas trees, etc.) directly into retention lakes. Keep
      temporarily                                       water is routed through all available “primary” waterways to   drainage facilities clear of vegetation, trash, improperly and
      stored in public                                  regional storage areas or coastal discharge points to relieve   illegally discarded appliances, shopping carts, tires, cars,
      recreational areas,                               flooding as quickly and safely as possible.        garbage bags, etc.




























                                                                 (786) 318-1450
                                                         (local)

                                                                 (201) 452-6859
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