Stormwater System Improvements Update
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The City is committed to enhancing its stormwater system to better manage flooding events, such as those caused by Hurricanes Ian and Milton. Both large and small-scale improvement projects that we will be completing in our residential neighborhoods so stay tuned.
Click the date below for additional information and photographs.
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Public Works crews cleared the Aspen Ditch to improve stormwater flow and drainage for the Big Tree Village Subdivision. This maintenance work helps reduce flooding and supports better water management throughout our neighborhoods. |
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The City’s Weather Station, located on top of City Hall, provides live, local weather updates for South Daytona! You can now view current conditions and forecasts anytime at: https://volusia.weatherstem.com/southdaytona. To find it on our website, visit southdaytona.org home page and it is listed under City Contact Information. |
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Yesterday, Mayor Hall represented the City of South Daytona at the 2026 Volusia County Legislative Delegation meeting in DeLand, accompanied by City Manager Gillis. Mayor Hall advocated for important local infrastructure needs, including funding for sewer lining projects to prevent backups and installation of new backflow preventers to reduce flooding in our community. The City appreciates the opportunity to share these priorities with our state legislative partners as we continue to “invest in us.” |
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Last week, our Public Works Crews completed a 30-inch stormwater line repair on Segrave Street. This important infrastructure work helps improve drainage, reduce flooding risks, and keep our neighborhoods safe and resilient during heavy rains. |
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On Wednesday, October 22, our City Manager attended the Volusia County Stormwater Mitigation and Flooding Subcommittee Meeting. The discussion focused on ongoing and upcoming projects throughout the County, as well as new ways to keep residents informed, including public information portals and other communication tools. We remain committed to working with our regional partners to strengthen flood resilience and ensure transparent communication about infrastructure improvements that protect our community. |
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Over the weekend, our city experienced a brief but intense rainstorm. Earlier this year, the City installed an intricate weather station at City Hall to capture as much data as we can when we experience severe weather events. That weather station recorded a peak rainfall intensity of the Saturday night storm at 4 inches per hour. City crews were alerted to the intense rainstorm and our Public Works Department responded to make sure there was no flooding. Fortunately, because of our preparation and system upgrades, only minimal action was needed. Thank you to our Public Works team for their readiness and commitment to keeping our community safe and running smoothly. |
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A big thank you to the resident who reported an issue with a basin on Kenilworth Avenue and Myrtle Place. Our Public Works team responded right away and resolved it! Your eyes in the community help us keep our stormwater system running smoothly. If you notice a problem, please call us at 386-322-3014. Together, we can keep our city in top shape! |
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The generator at Windle Stormwater Pond was set last night and will be wired today. Once connected, it will ensure the pump continues to operate during power outages to help manage stormwater and prevent flooding in the Coventry Forest subdivision. |
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The City’s contractor has finished thoroughly cleaning the Stevens Canal. The Public Works Department noticed that remnants of the cleaning process left behind pockets of debris that were cut down and accumulated in small piles in the canal. Those small piles have now been removed, and the entire canal is clear and ready to convey stormwater more effectively. |
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City Manager Gillis attended the October 7th Volusia County Council meeting, where the Council awarded the CDBG-DR (Disaster Recovery) Grant for the Aspen Pond Expansion Project! Our engineering consultant, Mead & Hunt, is finalizing the project design, and we’ll soon move forward in partnership with Volusia County to solicit bids from contractors for construction. Over the next month, several regulatory steps, including an environmental assessment, will also be completed as we continue to progress toward project implementation. A special thank you to our partners at Volusia County Council and Staff for their continued support and collaboration, including:
This partnership represents an important step forward in enhancing stormwater resiliency and protecting our community from future flooding impacts. |
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During yesterday’s heavy rain, our City Manager and Public Works Department were out in every subdivision monitoring drainage systems to make sure everything was flowing properly. As part of this effort, the team also took detailed notes on how the system performed. These observations will help guide new improvements and plans for the future to make our stormwater system even stronger and more resilient. |
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Our Public Works team was out all weekend working hard to prepare the City for the impacts of Tropical Storm Imelda. From clearing storm drains and running the street sweeper to securing and prepping vital infrastructure. These dedicated crews are always out, rain or shine, working to keep our community safe. A big thank you to the entire team for your around-the-clock efforts! |
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The City’s excavation contractor, Drewery, has started on the Windle Lane Pond Expansion project. The project calls for the vast expansion of the existing pond to more than double its current size with the goal of keeping stormwater out of homes in the Coventry Forest subdivision. |
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The Public Works Department has begun clearing the Stevens Canal again; this time with heavy equipment. Surface vegetation will be left to reduce erosion; however, the entire canal will be opened up from one end to the other. The goal is to allow for more flow and give access to the surveyors who will begin mapping the canal for the upcoming sheet pile wall design that is underway. The installation of sheeting to the canal will make it wider and capable of conveying water faster to our pumps at the Reed Canal Stormwater Control Facility. |
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This week, the City completed the replacement of a stormwater pipe on Alice Place to improve drainage in the area. This upgrade will help reduce flooding during heavy rains and enhance the overall stormwater management system in the neighborhood. |
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On Monday, City staff met with the project engineers to review progress on the Lantern Park Pond Project. The team has now completed the 30% design plans, an important milestone as we move closer to final design and construction. |
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The City cleaned the outfall box in the Harborside Village subdivision to help improve stormwater flow in the area. Regular maintenance like this helps reduce flooding risks and keeps our stormwater system working efficiently. |
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Crews are currently working at Lantern Park Pond, installing a permanent generator to ensure pumps keep running, even during power outages. This is a key step in protecting the Lantern Park subdivision. Next up, another permanent generator will be installed at Reed Canal Park Pond in the coming weeks. These upgrades are part of our ongoing efforts to strengthen the stormwater system and improve flood protection across the community. We are also working closely with engineers on plans for the larger stormwater pond for the subdivision. Preliminary designs have been submitted, and our team is committed to keeping the momentum going. |
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The City has now moved to Park of Honor Pond, where crews are installing a permanent generator. This generator will ensure pumps keep running during power outages, providing important protection for nearby neighborhoods. In the coming weeks, additional permanent generators will also be installed at Lantern Park Pond and Reed Canal Park Pond. These upgrades strengthen our stormwater system, improve flood protection, and help keep our community safe. |
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Drewry has completed the dry retention area on Anastasia Drive. This project is designed to manage stormwater and reduce flooding risks during severe weather. As you can see in the photo, the area is holding water as intended after the recent rain. This is part of the design, and the water will naturally soak in and disappear within a few days. Next up: Drewry will begin the Windle Pond expansion project to continue strengthening our stormwater system. |
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The City is installing a permanent generator at Windle Stormwater Pond to ensure pumps continue running during power outages, providing important protection for residents of Coventry Forest. In the coming weeks, three additional generators will also be installed at Lantern Park Pond, Park of Honor Pond, and Reed Canal Park Pond. These upgrades strengthen our stormwater system, improve flood protection, and help keep our neighborhoods safe. |
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The City has installed a backflow device with a new flap gate at the Nova Canal discharge point for Lakeview Subdivision. This important upgrade will help prevent water from flowing back into the subdivision when the Nova Canal is high, especially during severe weather events. Protecting our neighborhoods and improving stormwater resilience is a top priority. |
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The City has hired Drewry Site Development (the same company that successfully expanded the Reed Canal Stormwater Facility) to begin work on the City-owned lot on Anastasia Drive. This project will create a dry retention area designed to help manage stormwater and reduce flooding risks during periods of severe weather. By investing in this type of infrastructure, the City is taking proactive steps to better protect homes. |
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On Monday, the City received 6 temporary, portable generators that will be placed at stormwater pump stations and sanitary sewer lift stations. This is the first delivery, with more on the way. These generators will be staged throughout the City for the remainder of hurricane season, ensuring we stay prepared and resilient during severe weather. |
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On Tuesday, Senator Tom Wright presented the City with a $1.75 million check to fund the construction of a new stormwater pond in the Brian Avenue / Green Street area — another major step in improving flood control and protecting our community. In appreciation, Mayor Hall presented Senator Wright with a plaque honoring his dedicated service to South Daytona residents since 2018. Thanks to his strong advocacy, our city has received over $3.15 million for local projects that make South Daytona an even better place. Thank you, Senator Wright, for your continued commitment to our community! |
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Our excavation contractor, Drewry, has finished up the vast pond expansion at Reed Canal Stormwater Control Facility. This greatly expanded pond will store about twice as much water as before and reduce the likelihood of the Stevens Canal overflowing its banks. This pond expansion will significantly improve the drainage throughout the entire central portion of the City. The City will restore the site by seeding and mulching the banks of the pond and replacing the sidewalk through the disturbed area so pedestrians can freely access the site as before. |
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This week, City staff met with our consultants to move forward on adding a permanent pump at the end of Pope Avenue, which will be a major upgrade to protect the eastern half of Palm Grove from flooding. Currently, a portable pump is used during storms, but it requires staff to set up and turn on. We are seeking a grant to fund a permanent, high-capacity stormwater pumping station with automatic sensors, backup generator, and real-time monitoring through our SCADA system. This upgrade will boost drainage capacity, reduce flood risks during severe weather, and provide long-term resilience. This is a critical investment in stormwater management, reliability, and community safety. |
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The City is replacing Lift Station # 6 on Valencia Road which will be capable of pumping more effluent and resulting in fewer sewer backups in the surrounding neighborhood, especially during severe weather events. |
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Our Public Works team cleaned out the weir gate at the Reed Canal Stormwater Facility. Routine maintenance like this helps prevent flooding, improves water quality, and ensures our infrastructure works efficiently. |
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City staff recently met with project engineers to review the preliminary design plans for the Aspen Stormwater Pond Expansion Project. One of the key features being proposed is the addition of a second pump station, which will enhance pumping capacity and ensure greater system reliability through built-in redundancy. |
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Our Public Works crews have completed repairs on a 20-foot section of collapsed pipe on Sandusky Circle. This critical pipe carries stormwater to the main outfall into the river. |
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The City of South Daytona is currently televising and cleaning stormwater pipes in the Orchards Phase I neighborhood. This essential maintenance helps us identify potential issues, improve drainage, and protect our infrastructure. |
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On Wednesday, our Public Works team completed storm drain televising and cleaning along Magnolia Avenue from Wells Drive to Reed Canal Road. This important work helps improve water flow, and keeps our infrastructure in top shape. |
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Storm Prep Update: The City has taken all necessary precautions ahead of the approaching storm. Stormwater ponds have been lowered, pumps are fully operational, and backup generators are in place to ensure continuity of essential services.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the City Manager’s Office at 386-322-3014.
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This week, our hardworking Public Works crews replaced a collapsed 18-inch stormwater pipe on Biscayne Avenue to help improve drainage in the area. |
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Our Public Works team has been hard at work cleaning catch basins throughout the city to help prevent flooding and protect local waterways. Here's an example from Bishop Court. Keeping these storm drains clear ensures stormwater flows properly and helps keep our neighborhoods safe and clean. |
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Our Public Works team has cleaned the drains and stormwater grates in the Big Tree Shores subdivision to help improve drainage and reduce flooding risks. |
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Public Works Director Thornton met with our contractor, Drewry Site Development, to coordinate next steps on the Windle Lane stormwater pond expansion project. On June 10th, City Council approved this vital project to help alleviate flooding in the Coventry Forest subdivision. Drewry, who is currently wrapping up work at the Blue Villa pond (Reed Canal Stormwater Control Facility), will soon shift efforts to Windle Lane. |
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Public Works crews are working on New York Avenue and Magnolia Avenue to help Country Club Gardens by cleaning out ditches along the roads. This effort will improve stormwater drainage, reduce flooding risks, and help protect homes in the area. |
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Our Public Works team cleaned and serviced the wet well serving both Pike Court and Bishop Court, along with cleaning out pipes and inlets to improve drainage in the area. |
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This week, the City met with our consultants at Mead & Hunt to review updates on the evaluation of the City's drainage system. As part of this effort, Mead & Hunt has performed stormwater modeling to help us better understand current conditions and plan for the future. City staff and Mead & Hunt are working together to develop solutions that will improve our stormwater infrastructure. These efforts include planning and design for several key projects: Aspen Stormwater Pond Expansion, Sherwood Forest Stormwater Pond, Lantern Park Stormwater Pond, and Stevens Canal Sheet Pile Wall System. These initiatives aim to reduce flooding risks, improve water quality, and enhance the resilience of our stormwater system. |
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The Public Works Department has been installing spillways to more effectively convey stormwater into designated retention areas throughout the City. A prime example of this is the installation of a spillway at Silver Pond. After expanding this pond, we noticed that stormwater struggled to sheet flow over the existing ground and was backing up in the street. Once a spillway was installed, the street here drained faster and without erosion. |
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Last week, the Environmental Inspection for the Lantern Park Stormwater Pond was passed. As many of you know, the design phase is currently underway, and this inspection marks another important milestone on the path to construction. Every step brings us closer to a project that will improve stormwater management and enhance the overall resilience of our community. |
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The Public Works Department opened up a partially buried backflow preventer on the stormwater outfall located on Sandusky Road leading to the Halifax River to improve the drainage there. |
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The City is installing a new, advanced backflow preventor in Reed Canal Park, which serves the Orchards Phase I subdivision. This upgraded device is designed to better protect our neighborhoods by preventing water from backing up into subdivisions during heavy rain or flooding events. |
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City crews recently cleaned the Citrus Ditch to help improve drainage on the west side of the Palm Grove subdivision. These efforts support better stormwater flow and help reduce flooding in the area. |
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On Tuesday, Councilman Brandon Young and City Manager Gillis attended the Volusia County Council Meeting to show support for the design agreement for the Lantern Park Stormwater Pond—and we’re excited to share that the Council unanimously approved the item! We’ll now begin working with the engineer to design the pond. This is the first of four major projects funded through CDBG-DR grants approved by the county. Up next: ✅ Sherwood Forest Stormwater Pond ✅ Stevens Canal Bank Stabilization ✅ Aspen Stormwater Pond |
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City crews have been hard at work repouring concrete spillways across the City to improve how stormwater drains during heavy rains. These upgrades help prevent flooding, protect our neighborhoods, and keep local waterways cleaner! |
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On Tuesday, the City Council approved a contract for the design of the Aspen Stormwater Pond expansion project for the benefit of the Big Tree Village subdivision. |
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Last week, City crews cleared out some fallen trees, debris, and extra vegetation from Steven’s Canal to help keep it flowing and ready to handle stormwater. |
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The Public Works Department is expanding the Duck Pond on Anastasia Drive. The expansion of this stormwater pond will help improve the drainage of the surrounding homes. |
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This week, City staff held a preliminary meeting with the engineering team for the Lantern Park Pond design. Design work is expected to begin shortly, with construction to follow. This project marks the first of four initiatives in partnership with Volusia County through the CDBG-DR program. |
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The City is currently replacing the stormwater pipe at Calhoun Street and Yale Road. The old 18-inch pipe had deteriorated over time, and we’re upgrading it with a durable High density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe to improve drainage in the area. |
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This week, the City’s contractor is installing a new pump at Reed Canal Park. Funded through a budget allocation sponsored by Senator Tom Wright, the pump will help lower the pond and assist with flooding issues in the Orchards subdivision. |
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City crews have begun work on expanding Silver Pond in Big Tree Village. This project will increase stormwater capacity, helping to improve drainage and reduce flooding in the area. |
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In case you haven't driven by, the City's contractor, Drewry, has begun the City's first large scale drainage project - expanding the pond at Reed Canal Stormwater Facility. This will greatly enhance drainage for the entire central part of the City. |
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The City upgraded the pump at Jones Street Pond to significantly increase its stormwater pumping capacity. |
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The City replaced stormwater piping on Jacobs Road which was a potential chokepoint due to its size and the condition of the existing corrugated metal pipe. The new pipe that was installed was larger and will allow more stormwater to flow through it thereby improving the drainage system for the residents on Jacobs Road. |
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Public Works crews are clearing the Longshadow Ditch which will improve drainage to the Country Club Gardens area including those who live on Longshadow Road. |
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Volusia County has begun their maintenance of Reed Canal. Their efforts will ensure stormwater flows faster down Reed Canal as it makes its way to the Halifax River. A faster flowing canal means improved drainage for the Lantern Park subdivision, Bryan Cave Estates, Magnolia Avenue, and the pond being expanded at our Reed Canal Stormwater Control Facility.
A special thanks to our partners at Volusia County, including:
for their commitment to this project.
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Public Works crews are clearing the Aspen Ditch to improve the drainage for the Big Tree Village Subdivision. |
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In anticipation of the County’s grant to begin the design of an additional stormwater pond and wall inside the Lantern Park subdivision, the City has lined several of the sewer lines to repair any damage done to them by the flooding caused by Hurricane Milton. |
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We have begun clearing the Railroad Ditch which conveys stormwater from the large pond on Windle Lane inside the Coventry Forest subdivision. This ditch is vital to transporting pumped stormwater from the Windle Lane pond to Reed Canal during severe weather events. |
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The City replaced the lift station inside the Lantern Park subdivision which is capable of pumping more effluent which will prevent sewer backups in the neighborhood especially during severe weather events. |
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The Public Works Department recently televised the stormwater pipes on Kenilworth Avenue. They found several sections of pipe where mud had settled in following Hurricane Milton. |
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We have installed rain catchers in all of the sewer manholes on Jacobs Road which will prevent stormwater from leaching into the sewer system via the pick-holes in the manhole lids and causing the system to prematurely overflow. |
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The City has begun cleaning the Stevens Canal which will help stormwater get to our Reed Canal Stormwater Control Facility quicker. We urge our residents not to throw vegetation and debris from their back yard into this canal as it causes obstructions. Bring the debris to the front yard by the curb for our garbage hauler to take it away. |
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The City has replaced the lift station inside the Big Tree Village subdivision with a new and larger one that is capable of pumping more effluent during any severe rain events. |
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The City has installed a weather station atop City Hall that measures atmospheric conditions which will be used to document our stormwater system’s performance compared to measured rain events. |
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City staff worked to clean the drainage canal adjacent to Riverfront Veterans Memorial Park, which will help S. Palmetto Avenue drain quicker during heavy rainstorms. |
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Our new street sweeper, Dragon Brooms, has been mobilized every week to keep the streets clean from debris so it doesn’t end up in our storm drains. |
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The City has chosen a more advanced type of backflow preventor to help better prevent water from backing up into subdivisions. These new backflow preventors will be utilized throughout the City. The first one is going to be installed at the outflow pipe coming from the Orchards, Phase II which will prevent the water from the Reed Canal Park pond from backing up into the subdivision. |
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The City has cleared undergrowth from the easement behind Pope Avenue to improve stormwater conveyance in that area. |
| Public Works Department is continuing to replace stormwater piping on Oriole Lane to increase the flow of stormwater to the Stevens Canal. |