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Your Health & Flood Water

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Summertime rainstorms can bring heavy rainfall with localized ponding in swales, roadways and front yards. These low-lying areas are designed to hold stormwater to keep our homes dry. But weather is unpredictable and severe rainfall in a short period of time may overwhelm the drainage system causing flooding.

Should you encounter flood water, remember that basic hygiene is critical.  Wash your hands with soap and water that has been boiled or disinfected before preparing or eating food, after toilet use, after participating in flood cleanup activities and after handling articles contaminated with flood water.

Avoid eating or drinking anything that has been in contact with flood water. Flood water may be contaminated with fecal matter or other pollutants, so do not wade through, or allow children or pets to play in standing water. If you have any open cuts or sores and cannot avoid contact with flood water, keep them as clean as possible by washing with soap to control infection.  If a wound develops redness, swelling or drainage, seek immediate medical attention.

Remove and discard absorbent household materials, such as curtains, rugs, and Sheetrock.  Clean all walls and hard-surfaced floors with soap and water and disinfect with a solution of 1/4 cup of bleach to one gallon of water.  Thoroughly disinfect surfaces where food may come into contact such as counter tops, refrigerators, and tables. Wash all linens and clothing in hot water.

Saturated ground soil can place stress on residential septic systems. If on a septic system and your plumbing is functioning slowly there may be a problem with too much ground water. To help reduce the stress on the septic system, conserve water as much as possible. The less water used the less water the septic tank must process. Do not have the septic tank pumped as exceptionally high-water tables might crush a septic tank that was pumped dry.

During severe weather events, the Lake Worth Drainage District (LWDD) monitors the canal water elevations and makes operational adjustments to the system. However, we still want to hear from residents and businesses within our boundary who may be experiencing flooding issues. Report flooding by calling the main office number 561-498-5363 or sending an email to eoc@lwdd.net.

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Flood Control Resource For Communities

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Residential communities play an important role in providing flood control for their residents. Since the mid-1970s, development standards for drainage systems have been regulated through design and permitting to ensure flood protection. Learn more about your flood control role by downloading the guidelines on maintaining and operating a community drainage system – CLICK HERE.

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Hurricane Preparations Include Landscaping

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You have your hurricane supplies ready and emergency plan in place, but have you forgotten about your outdoor living space? Many residents work hard creating beautiful yards but living in Florida means we live with hurricanes. There is no way to completely protect your landscape from the effects of a severe storm, but there are some things you can do to minimize potential damage.

When a storm is approaching take time to mow your yard. This may seem unimportant at the time, but it will make debris clean-up easier and you have one less thing to think about post-storm. Also, once the rain starts it may be days or even weeks before you can safely operate a lawn mower through the saturated soil and grass.

Do not prune trees and leave debris on site if a storm is imminent. It is better to take a chance and leave the tree intact if you cannot get the debris off site before the storm. Remove coconuts from coconut palm trees and harvest fruits from other trees that are mature enough to be picked. Branches and other debris become dangerous projectiles during a storm. If you have waited until the last minute to trim large branches, store them in your garage or another safe place away from the wind.

Support small trees and tall plants with sturdy stakes driven at least 8-inches into the ground. You can also lay arches and trellises on the ground and anchor them with a rope or wire. Masses of heavy vines growing on fences can pull fencing over in high winds. If the vines are extensive you may want to trim or remove them altogether.

In addition to wind damage, you may be faced with flooded areas of your yard for several days or weeks. Flooded conditions can seriously impact water-intolerant plants leading to fruit drop, wilting and root rot. Saturated soil coupled with high winds lead to uprooted trees, especially trees with shallow root systems. Sprinkler systems should be in the off mode. This includes irrigation systems with a rain shut-off device. You can reset your system to automatic when the soil dries out.

Clear house gutters of leaves, branches, and other debris to ensure water from heavy rains has free movement away from the house. Make sure gutters are firmly attached and directing water away from the home. If there are no gutters and the water pours off the roof in a concentrated area, consider placing pavers or rocks in the runoff area to reduce soil erosion.

Before the storm arrives, check surrounding areas to ensure there are no blockages that may prevent drainage. Clear debris from areas where water will flow like storm drains and swale areas. After the storm, check these areas again for possible blockages.

We may get lucky and avoid a hurricane this year, but it is better to be safe and prepared for the worst. Take time before the storm to protect yourself, your family, and your property from potential damage.

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It Takes 3

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Man-made stormwater ponds are attractive enhancements to many residential communities and businesses within the Lake Worth Drainage District (LWDD). More importantly, these waterbodies serve an important public safety purpose as they are part of the overall flood control system.

When it rains, stormwater flows into the retention pond and, if needed for flood control, out through the pond’s discharge control structure into the LWDD canal. Most of the time this drainage occurs unnoticed by the average individual. However, during a severe storm, flooding in streets, sidewalks, and driveways may occur. This nuisance flooding may cause concern, but it is important to note these low-lying areas are designed as secondary detention areas to protect buildings and homes from flooding.

Within LWDD, flood control is a shared responsibility and achieved through an interconnected, 3-tiered drainage system governed by 3 unique groups of people. Through communication and coordination, these 3 groups can provide effective flood control. The groups are identified as:

  • Neighborhood drainage systems operated by property owners or residential associations
  • Secondary drainage systems operated by LWDD or municipalities
  • Primary drainage system operated by the South Florida Water Management District

Water managers in charge of primary and secondary systems are continually monitoring the weather and canal levels to proactively respond to changes in canal elevations. In anticipation of a heavy rainfall event, water managers will make operational adjustments to maintain appropriate water elevations for flood control. Additionally, throughout the year routine canal maintenance is conducted to provide unobstructed flow in the canal channel and access along the canal rights-of-way. The inspection of control structures, pumps and other infrastructure is also conducted, and repairs or replacements are made.

Property owners and residential associations have a similar role regarding their neighborhood drainage system. They must maintain their drainage infrastructure to ensure that inlets, storm drains, pipes, and discharge control structures are free of potential blockages and working as designed, thus maintaining the flow of stormwater away from their property. An annual inspection of the drainage infrastructure should be made, and repairs should be completed before the start of the storm season on June 1.

Neighborhood drainage systems with operable discharge control structures can request permission from LWDD to open their structure prior to a severe storm. This will provide additional onsite storage capacity within the stormwater pond. Additionally, this group should register with LWDD the individuals who are responsible for the maintenance of the neighborhood drainage system and control structure operation. It is recommended that communities update this registration at least once a year to verify the contact information is current. This will ensure that important weather alerts and instructions are being sent to the appropriate designated individuals. A registration form can be found on LWDD’s website at https://lwddnet.wpengine.com/2296-2.

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Hurricane Season Is Almost Here!

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Florida’s hurricane season begins on June 1 and ends November 30. Based on historical weather records dating back to the 1950s, a typical season will average 12 tropical storms with sustained winds of at least 39 miles per hour, of which six may turn into hurricanes with winds of 74 miles per hour or more. In addition to high winds, hurricanes and tropical storms can bring torrential rainfall. These severe weather events can produce localized flooding that can be exacerbated by improperly maintained drainage systems.

Residential communities and businesses can help mitigate the impacts of severe storms with a few simple steps. One of the most important steps is the regular inspection and maintenance of drainage infrastructure. Drainage infrastructure can include inlets, discharge control structures, connecting pipes, and ponds. Proper maintenance of these facilities will ensure the unobstructed flow of stormwater and fully operational equipment.

Secondly, residential communities and businesses with operable discharge control structures can request authorization from the Lake Worth Drainage District (LWDD) to open these structures prior to the storm. Lowering pond levels provides additional storage for excess stormwater.

LWDD recommends establishing a Drainage Committee whose role is to provide for the maintenance and operation of the community or business’s drainage system. Drainage Committees may consist of board members, residents, and/or property managers. All members of the Drainage Committee should register with LWDD on its website at www.lwdd.net. This registration process ensures LWDD water managers know who to contact and where to send important weather alerts and instructions.

While weather predictions are becoming more sophisticated, forecasters are still unable to predict exactly where a storm will make landfall. The likelihood of flooding depends on several variables such as rainfall volume, ground moisture, and local terrain. No system, no matter how well designed, is 100% flood-proof. However, good maintenance practices are the first step to protecting you from potential flooding. Find more information about community flood control on our website https://lwddnet.wpengine.com/property-managers-hoa.