Woman by canal

Drainage Check-up For The New Year

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Throughout the year, the Lake Worth Drainage District (LWDD) oversees the operation and maintenance of approximately 500 miles of canals and 1,000 miles of canal rights-of-way. In addition, LWDD operates 20 major water control structures which release or hold back water depending on conditions. However, effective flood control takes more than just LWDD. Property owners and residential communities all have a role to play in the overall flood control system.

In South Florida, flood control is a shared responsibility and is achieved through an interconnected, three-tiered drainage system. This three-tiered system is made up of tertiary or neighborhood drainage systems operated by property owners or residential associations; secondary drainage systems which are operated by LWDD, county or municipalities, and the primary system operated by the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD).

The role of property owners and residential associations is like that of LWDD in that they retain stormwater onsite in retention ponds/lakes for water quality purposes and discharge excess stormwater for flood control. They must maintain their drainage infrastructure to ensure that catch basins, underground pipes and discharge control structures are working as designed.

South Florida’s dry season runs from approximately October to May. January is the ideal time of year to conduct inspections of drainage infrastructure and make any necessary repairs. Additionally, the start of a new year is when many residential boards hold elections and change property management companies. It is important to register these changes with LWDD to ensure the correct individuals are receiving important weather alerts and flood control instructions. Taking time during the dry season will help ensure that your property is ready for the coming rainy season. For more information on flood control or to submit contact information, visit LWDD’s website at www.lwdd.net/property-managers-hoa.

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Dangers in Using Public Land for Personal Use

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Many people in southeastern Palm Beach County live adjacent to a Lake Worth Drainage District (LWDD) canal. To enhance their backyard, residents look to install landscape materials or structures such as swing-sets, fences, and patio decks. Often without realizing it, these enhancements are installed on LWDD’s rights-of-way which is publicly managed land.

Effective flood control depends on LWDD’s extensive network of canals to move stormwater away from homes after major weather events. Vegetation and other structures on the canal rights-of-way can severely hinder LWDD’s ability to keep residents safe during and after severe storms. Trees and large shrubs can topple over in high winds blocking emergency access along the canal bank or fall into the canal channel blocking the flow of water. Encroachments not only endanger the residents adjacent to the canal but also individuals living miles inland.

Maintaining water flow within the canal channel and access along the right-of-way is vital for public safety. It requires daily maintenance by LWDD crews as well as the removal of identified encroachments. LWDD encourages all property owners to contact us prior to the installation of landscaping or structures to ensure these items are not located on the canal rights-of-way. No matter how expensive or beautiful the installation, unauthorized encroachments will have to be removed. Considering installation and removal, this can be a costly mistake for homeowners.

If you live adjacent to a canal, contact LWDD staff at info@lwdd.net to verify the location of your next project and help us keep you and your neighbors safe.

HOA Meeting

Community Flood Control Webinar

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LWDD is offering a Community Flood Control online webinar you to watch at your convenience. After viewing the webinar contact us at info@lwdd.net or 561-498-5363 if you need additional information or guidance.
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Emergency Notices: Don’t Be Left Out

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If you are a property manager, maintenance staff, board member or resident designated with the responsibility for flood control response, be sure LWDD has your contact information. We send out email notices with emergency updates and flood control authorizations for managing the community’s pond water elevations. Sign-up using the link below.
Aerial canal photo

LWDD Operations and Water Conservation

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Florida is fortunate to receive over 50 inches of rainfall a year on average. Most of that amount is concentrated during the six-month rainy season (May through October). While some of the runoff from these rains is discharged to the ocean to avoid flooding, a significant amount soaks into the ground and recharges the freshwater aquifers that supply our drinking water wellfields, lakes, and wetlands.

For large populations of people to live safely in south Florida, a massive regional water management system is required to balance the water supply needs of urban areas and agriculture against the requirement to maintain flood protection. If we did not provide adequate drainage to the region, human health and safety would be jeopardized and extensive property damage could occur. Similarly, if regional groundwater levels were not properly maintained, wellfields would be unable to deliver water to our homes and businesses, or worse yet, the underground inland migration of salt water from the ocean could permanently contaminate the drinking water supply rendering it unsafe for potable uses.

Water conservation efforts by LWDD help mitigate some of the water supply issues our region experiences.  The large network of LWDD canals plays a critical role in conservation by maintaining groundwater levels which in turn supports the water levels in lakes, ponds, and wetlands across the region. During dry periods, groundwater levels tend to slowly fall in response to low rain and high evaporation. When this occurs, water managers in the region look to large regional storage areas like the Water Conservation Areas in the Everglades or to Lake Okeechobee as a source of supplemental water. Water from these sources is released into the canal network to raise the level of water in the canals. This water in turn seeps through the sandy soils to recharge the groundwater and returns the water table to its normal elevation thus helping to protect drinking water supplies.

The LWDD’s efforts, to manage drainage canals at appropriate elevations to balance water supply needs and avoid ocean discharges when possible, plays a key role in comprehensive water conservation for South Florida.