WEST PALM BEACH, FLA. (October 1, 2020) --  As rainy season continues and Spring Tides return, consider taking these steps to help prevent flooding and ponding:

• Keep debris and yard waste away from storm drains to prevent blockages.
• Compost or mulch your yard waste. Do not leave it in the street or sweep it into storm drains or waterways. Collect grass clippings with a lawnmower bag.
• Cover piles of dirt or mulch being stored for landscaping projects. These can become mobile during rain events and block drains.
• Remove sediment and debris from in and around swales. A properly maintained swale protects your home and your neighbor’s home by helping to prevent flooding and stormwater pollution. 

City crews routinely monitor the City’s stormwater system to prevent or mitigate flooding. The Department of Public Utilities’ Stormwater Drainage Division routinely cleans and inspects over 5,000 storm drains to remedy street flooding and ponding before they occur. Two dozen crew members regularly haul away yard waste and other debris near storm drains. When the forecast calls for extensive periods of rainfall, City crews prioritize areas prone to flooding and clear roadside litter and landscape debris.

“The most important type of flooding maintenance is preventive maintenance,” said Dr. Poonam Kalkat, Director of the Department of Utilities. “The City and residents both have a role to play in the maintenance of our stormwater drainage system to prevent flooding and pollution. Residents can help keep storm drains and inlets clear and reduce the likelihood of storm-related flooding.”

Recently, the City shared plans to upgrade the City’s stormwater infrastructure system to address sea level rise, extreme rain events and aging/deteriorating infrastructure. The City is planning to invest over $20 million in stormwater and drainage projects within the next three years. 

 
Tidal flooding on South Flagler Dr. & Barcelona Rd.

Rising seas and the frequency, extent and duration of tidal flooding have led to chronic, short term, flood-related ponding events. To address tidal flooding, the City has installed tidal flood valves at Trinity Place (east of Chase Ave.) and South Flagler Dr. (at Pershing Way). Tidal flood valves allow stormwater to drain out and prevent ocean water, or water from the Intracoastal Waterway, from backing up into the stormwater pipe network.

 
Illustration of Tidal Valve Operation during King Tide Event

An additional 13 locations, where the worst tidal flooding has been witnessed, are also scheduled for tidal flood valve installation projects, which are scheduled to be completed in 2021. Locations include:

• 34^th Street
• 29^th Street & North Flagler Drive
• South Lakeside Court / L.A. Kirksey Street
• North Flagler Court (Providencia Park) (multiple outfalls)
• 9^th Street & North Flagler Drive
• Barcelona Road & South Flagler Drive
• Granada Road & South Flagler Drive
• Monceaux Road & South Flagler Drive
• Greenwood Road to Southern Blvd. (multiple outfalls)
• Monroe Drive & South Flagler Drive
• Edmor Road & South Flagler Drive
• Bloomfield Drive & South Flagler Drive
• South Flagler Court

In 2020 and 2021, the City is planning to move forward with capital improvement projects (CIP) to add drainage systems, increase the drainage capacity of existing systems, or extend the life of existing systems that are near or have exceeded their useful lifespan. 

Installation of new drainage systems, to convey stormwater runoff to the nearest drainage system or water body and prevent or decrease the amount of time water ponds in the area, are scheduled for the following locations:

• Pine Terrace and Washington Road
• 35^th Street and North Flagler Drive

In 2021, improved drainage system projects-- which include Low Impact Development (LID) features, will be installed. LID features are used to capture and treat stormwater runoff and direct it to groundwater instead of releasing it to tidewaters. Projects are scheduled for the following locations:

• 26^th Street, between Poinsettia Avenue and the Lake Worth Lagoon
• Nottingham Boulevard/Miller Drive

To extend the service life of existing storm pipes, major pipe lining projects are planned for the following locations.

• Palm Beach Outlets
• Pinewood Avenue, between 23^rd Street and 59^th Street
• N. Flagler Drive, between 54^th Street and 58^th Street
• Manning Avenue, between 51^st Street and 58^th Street
• 48^th Street, between Pinewood Avenue and Broadway Avenue, and
• Banyan Boulevard, between Australian Avenue and Flagler Drive.

Pipelining projects are construction projects that do not necessarily require the road to be cut open to replace the pipe.  Manhole or drainage structures are used to insert the liner into the pipe to take the shape of the pipe.  The process takes only days vs. several weeks if the pipe was replaced.

“We are pleased to be able to invest in our neighborhoods and make these much-needed infrastructure improvements,” stated West Palm Beach Mayor Keith A. James. “By making these upgrades, we are better able to respond to the challenges of extreme rain events, sea level rise, and aging/deteriorating infrastructure. These improvements will make our neighborhoods more attractive, improve residents’ quality of life, and attract economic investment to our city.”

Residents may report incidents of storm-related debris or severe street or property flooding to the City of West Palm Beach Central Operations Emergency office at (561) 822-2210 (TTY 800 955-8771).  The office, dedicated to customer satisfaction, is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

For an interactive tour of the City’s Engineering Capital Improvement Projects, please visit the Capitol Improvement Project (CIP) Portal.

To contact the City of West Palm Beach Department of Public Utilities, please dial (561) 822-2210 (TTY 800 955-8771). For information about the City of West Palm Beach, please visit: https://www.wpb.org/.