FloodSafe Minute: - Why isn't my street draining?
Why isn’t my street draining?
Erosion Control and Lawn Care Measures to Keep our Drains Clear
During rain events, the Parish relies on a series of pump stations, retention ponds, detention ponds, bayous, canals and our streets to hold water for various amounts of time. Once the pumps come on, generally the streets are cleared in a short time and water infiltrates into the ground as it sits in the ponds. Drains can become clogged and not drain properly threatening damage to homes and vehicles. You can help keep our drains clear so they have the capacity to move stormwater effectively. Article XI. – Stormwater Quality Management and Discharge Control of the Terrebonne Parish Municipal Code governs protection of our drainage system.
Lawn Care - Sec. 22-353. - Illicit discharge; Parish Code Chapter 11 – Waste Disposal
Yard waste and garbage aren’t generally toxic, but they are pollution and introducing it into the drain system is illegal. Yard waste and garbage can fill up our drains and culverts limiting the ability of stormwater to get off the street and to the bayou. Trash, twigs, and dirt can also hurt the pump system and fill in the bayou requiring more frequent dredging to be ready for the next storm.
Bag or confine all leaves and other yard waste for trash pickup.
Don’t leave yard clippings in the street and border mulch beds so that they don’t wash into roads and the storm drains.
Home and construction activities have the potential to create pollution in our streets and bayous that cost us money. Water treatment, dredging, street cleaning, storm drain clogs can be costly and impair bayou health and drinking water supplies. If mud is getting into the street or drains, the site may be in violation. For home or commercial temporary activity, there are ways to protect the drains as simple as a couple bales of hay or straw. It is always better to avoid dirt and waste getting into the roadways or flowing water.
Construction Activities may need a permit under Sec. 22-354. - Erosion and sediment control.
Contractors Must Prevent Tracking Soils into Streets
• Drive construction vehicles only on paved streets or on a rocked or matted pad. Installing a pad of gravel over filter cloth where construction traffic leaves a site can help stabilize sediment at a construction entrance/exit. As a vehicle drives over the pad, the pad removes mud and sediment from the wheels and reduces soil transport off the site. The filter cloth separates the gravel from the soil below. It also reduces rutting by vehicle tires
• Use shaker racks (also called exit grids, rumble strips or cattle guards) and other similar proprietary devices to help knock mud and dirt off vehicle tires before they reach the street.
• Protect and maintain stormwater inlets in the vicinity of construction activities.
Construction Site Erosion Control Structures Need to Be Maintained
• Inspect erosion prevention and sediment control measures daily.
• Promptly fix those that are broken, knocked out of place or that need to be reinforced or changed.
• Remove accumulated sediments to a stable site. Do not wash them into gutters or storm drains.
• Avoid additional fees by maintaining the site.
Construction soils and waste not properly contained on site can be reported to the parish permit office which will let the building inspectors check for permits f needed, investigate and, if necessary, place a stop work order on the job site.
We can work together to keep our stormwater system running efficiently and effectively to protect our community.
Questions? Contact the Department of Planning and Zoning’s Regulatory Division for the MS4 Compliance Officer at 985-873-6567.
