South Florida’s weather and residential communities do not always mix well. It does not have to be a tropical storm or hurricane to cause a flooding issue. At any time of the year, a localized downpour from a severe thunderstorm has the potential to cause flooding. Anyone who has experienced these intense rainfall events understands that it only takes a small blockage in a storm drain or malfunctioning control structure to jeopardize the safety and wellbeing of the neighborhood.
The following is a good example of how rapidly the lack of maintenance can result in flooding. A few years ago, the southern portion of LWDD’s boundary experienced a severe and unexpected downpour. Around 1:00 in the morning, LWDD received a call from the President of a homeowner’s association. In a panicked voice he informed staff that flooding was eminent in his community. An LWDD employee was deployed. When he arrived on-site, he noticed there was no positive outflow from the stormwater pond to the drainage canal and it appeared there was an obstruction in the pond’s discharge control structure. Upon further investigation and after clearing 20-30 coconuts from the structure, he was able to provide enough flow of water to prevent a flooding incident. This is a true story but not a unique story.
Many residential communities have faced similar emergencies. It might not be coconuts from surrounding trees; but yard waste, debris, broken or unmaintained control structures and failed pipes can cause a similar crisis. Keeping the community’s drainage system and infrastructure in good working order year-round is a vital and necessary job for the community. You will want to ensure the discharge control structures, swales, storm drains, and outfall pipes have an unobstructed flow and are in good working order. In addition, proper landscape maintenance and removal of any encroachments on canal rights-of-way are imperative to avoid trees toppling over into canals as well as providing a clear path for large equipment should emergency access be required by LWDD crews.
The end of the 2023 storm season is near, but the end of storm readiness never ends.
Your Question Answered
/in News, ResidentialQ: I have a real Christmas tree. Will you dispose of it if I leave it on the canal bank or in the canal?
A: Any material from trimming or tree removal, including the disposal of Christmas trees, by the property owner must be properly disposed of by the resident or if applicable the contractor performing the work. Keep in mind that it is unlawful to place any debris in the canal or on the right-of-way in anticipation that LWDD will remove the material. Unlawful dumping will be reported to the authorities.
Annual Landowners Meeting and Board Election January 10, 2024 at 9AM
/in News, ResidentialThe Annual Landowners meeting will be held at the District Office on Wednesday, January 10, 2024 at 9am.
The Lake Worth Drainage District (LWDD) is governed by a five-member Board of Supervisors who reside or own property within the boundary of the LWDD. The Supervisors are elected to three-year terms by LWDD’s landowners. Their terms are staggered to provide that at least one Supervisor is elected each year at the Annual Landowners meeting. Landowners may vote in person by ballot at the Landowners Meeting or by proxy.
Staff reports and presentations on the operations of LWDD during the past year are given. Also, topics which the board or landowners wish to discuss will be addressed. Landowners are encouraged to attend and participate. Learn more about the Landowners meeting and the board election at https://www.lwdd.net/board-of-supervisors/election-process
Your Question Answered
/in News, Residential, Water QualityWhy do I sometimes smell a strong odor after the District has treated the canal with herbicide?
The strong odor you smell is related to the oil emulsion that is mixed with the herbicide. Emulsion herbicides are a thicker consistency, allowing the spray to adhere to treated vegetation even when it rains so that it stays in place long enough to be effective. The odor will dissipate within a few days. The District strictly adheres to the environmental rules and regulations established and enforced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) for the application of various herbicides associated with aquatic vegetation management.
Tom Has A Message For You
/in News, Residential, Water QualityA fried turkey is a Thanksgiving treat, but the mess from all that oil is less enticing. After a wonderful meal and it’s time to clean up, do you know what to do with that left-over cooking oil?
You can store used cooking oil to reuse later. If you plan to reuse your cooking oil, you should choose a high-quality oil with a high smoking point and strain it through cheesecloth between each use. Store the used cooking oil in a cool, dry place in a sealed container.
If you choose to dispose of it, do not pour it down your drain. That can cause costly damage to your home plumbing, sewage collection system and septic system. Additionally, do not dispose of used cooking oil in your garden, down a storm drain or into a canal. Once the oil enters the water system it becomes a pollutant and may cause serious harm to water quality and marine life.
To dispose of cooking oil properly, carefully pour the cooled used cooking oil into a large, sturdy plastic container no larger than 5 gallons in size. Don’t mix the used cooking oil with any other liquids or products. Cap it tightly and drop it off at one of the Solid Waste Authority’s Home Chemical and Recycling Centers. For a complete list of drop-off locations call 561-697-2700 or visit the Solid Waste Authority’s website at https://www.swa.org/173/Used-Cooking-Oil.
Year-Round Readiness
/in News, ResidentialSouth Florida’s weather and residential communities do not always mix well. It does not have to be a tropical storm or hurricane to cause a flooding issue. At any time of the year, a localized downpour from a severe thunderstorm has the potential to cause flooding. Anyone who has experienced these intense rainfall events understands that it only takes a small blockage in a storm drain or malfunctioning control structure to jeopardize the safety and wellbeing of the neighborhood.
The following is a good example of how rapidly the lack of maintenance can result in flooding. A few years ago, the southern portion of LWDD’s boundary experienced a severe and unexpected downpour. Around 1:00 in the morning, LWDD received a call from the President of a homeowner’s association. In a panicked voice he informed staff that flooding was eminent in his community. An LWDD employee was deployed. When he arrived on-site, he noticed there was no positive outflow from the stormwater pond to the drainage canal and it appeared there was an obstruction in the pond’s discharge control structure. Upon further investigation and after clearing 20-30 coconuts from the structure, he was able to provide enough flow of water to prevent a flooding incident. This is a true story but not a unique story.
Many residential communities have faced similar emergencies. It might not be coconuts from surrounding trees; but yard waste, debris, broken or unmaintained control structures and failed pipes can cause a similar crisis. Keeping the community’s drainage system and infrastructure in good working order year-round is a vital and necessary job for the community. You will want to ensure the discharge control structures, swales, storm drains, and outfall pipes have an unobstructed flow and are in good working order. In addition, proper landscape maintenance and removal of any encroachments on canal rights-of-way are imperative to avoid trees toppling over into canals as well as providing a clear path for large equipment should emergency access be required by LWDD crews.
The end of the 2023 storm season is near, but the end of storm readiness never ends.