Stormwater Master Plan: Through Rain or Shine
Stormwater Master Plan: service manages and maintains the infrastructure that handles stormwater runoff and helps prevent localized flooding of roads and sidewalks. St. Pete’s storm drains are not connected to sanitary sewer systems or treatment plants, so rainwater flows directly from storm drains into creeks, lakes, Tampa Bay, and the Gulf of Mexico without treatment. Residents can take simple actions to decrease stormwater pollution, which is water pollution that is carried from yards and streets by rain runoff, into local waterways.
The City of St. Petersburg implements a tiered billing structure for stormwater rates for single-family properties to replace the flat fee that was previously charged to all single-family residential properties. This new tiered structure has classified single-family properties into tiers, based on the square footage of impervious surface area (surfaces that water runs off), so that a property’s fee more accurately reflects its impact to the stormwater system.
Through Rain or Shine
The City of St. Petersburg is working to improve stormwater, reduce flooding and mitigate the impacts of sea level rise in St. Pete with the Stormwater Master Plan. The Stormwater Master Plan is a long-term vision document that will be a guide for major investment in the city’s stormwater infrastructure to bring about long-term improvements. The Stormwater Master Plan is part of a larger master plan to address St. Pete’s water infrastructure holistically.
The Stormwater Master Plan is the development of a program regulated by the Southwest Water Management District and is referred to as a Watershed Management Plan by regulatory Agencies. The City, County and Water Management Districts are continuously engaged in efforts targeted to address impacts to water quality and quantity.
The plan started with the collection of data from multiple sources including existing databases, computer models, field surveys and public input. The City has been collecting vast amounts of information about the drainage infrastructure and is developing a computer database to analyze the drainage system and identify drainage infrastructure upgrades.
Stormwater Master Plan: Fertilizer Ban
Increased rainfall in the summer months can cause nutrients from fertilizer to reach bodies of water and lead to environmental issues like algae blooms, fish kills, and water quality problems. To prevent this, the citywide fertilizer ban is in effect June 1 to September 30 each year.
To help maintain the health of our waterways and marine life, residents should:
- Treat their lawn with a slow-release fertilizer in the spring or fertilizer-free micronutrients in the summer to keep their lawn happy all summer.
- Pick up any debris or vegetation near storm drains year-round to keep it from entering local waterways.
- Follow a no-mow zone six feet from any water body, helping to establish a protective barrier.
- Make sure their lawn maintenance/landscaper is certified through Pinellas County.
- Replace some or all of their lawn with Florida-friendly natives.
Data
StPeteStat is an interactive tool that displays performance measures and Stormwater, Pavement and Traffic Operations Department data.
Brandon
