Stormwater Drainage Contractor Podcast , The Town of Palm Beach

Full Transcript

00:00:00 Louisa
Hey everyone and welcome back for another deep dive.

00:00:02 Louisa
This time we're in sunny Palm Beach, FL and we're going to be talking about storm water management.

00:00:05 Greg
Oh, thanks.

00:00:09
Yeah.

00:00:10 Louisa
You're thinking about maybe doing some work on your property and you were smart enough to send over a few documents.

00:00:12 Greg
OK.

00:00:15 Louisa
One is the town code of ordinances, and then we also have a storm water management agreement form. And then lastly some design criteria guidelines from the town.

00:00:15
Right.

00:00:25 Greg
Wow, that's a lot.

00:00:26 Louisa
It is a lot, but we're going to we're going to decode it all for you.

00:00:29 Louisa
So you know exactly what to expect when it comes to stormwater management in Palm Beach.

00:00:33 Greg
Stormwater management is very important, especially in a place like Palm Beach.

00:00:36 Louisa
I would imagine so.

00:00:37 Greg
Where you have, you know.

00:00:38 Greg
Beautiful landscaping and oceanfront properties and all that.

00:00:42 Louisa
Yeah, make.

00:00:43 Louisa
So before we get into the nitty gritty, maybe just at a high level, can you explain what is storm water management?

00:00:45 Greg
OK.

00:00:49 Greg
So storm water management is really all about when it rains.

00:00:53 Louisa
OK.

00:00:54 Greg
The water doesn't just disappear.

00:00:55 Louisa
Right.

00:00:56 Greg
It flows over your property, picks up whatever's in its path, and then it ends up.

00:00:59 Louisa
Yeah.

00:01:00 Greg
And we want to make sure it doesn't end up, you know, in your basement or polluting the waterways.

00:01:05 Louisa
Great.

00:01:05 Greg
So storm water management is all the tools and techniques used.

00:01:09 Greg
To manage that storm water runoff.

00:01:11 Louisa
So it's about being a good neighbor, I guess to the environment and the people around you.

00:01:13 Greg
Exactly. Yeah. To the environment and your neighbors. And Palm Beach actually takes this.

00:01:18 Greg
Very seriously. They have a whole section in their code of ordinances dedicated to stormwater. They mean business.

00:01:24 Louisa
They do.

00:01:26 Louisa
O I'm guessing most people don't just like, sit around reading codes.

00:01:29 Greg
No.

00:01:30 Louisa
They don't. What are some of the must knows for a property owner?

00:01:34 Greg
So the main thing is they're trying to protect water quality both above ground and below ground.

00:01:39 Louisa
OK.

00:01:40 Greg
That's their main.

00:01:41 Greg
And Palm Beach actually goes a step further than a lot of places. They require you to comply not only with local rules, but also state and federal regulations.

00:01:50 Greg
And they always go with whatever standard is the strictest.

00:01:55 Louisa
So they're not messing around.

00:01:57 Louisa
What if I'm just doing some basic maintenance, like trimming my hedges or, you know, raking leaves?

00:01:59 Greg
Yeah.

00:02:03 Louisa
I really need to worry about all.

00:02:04 Greg
So for basic maintenance activities, you're usually fine.

00:02:07
OK.

00:02:08 Greg
There are some common sense exceptions built into the code, but for anything that could change how the water flows.

00:02:13 Greg
Or, it's best to check with the town engineer exactly. Especially, if you're doing any sort of construction or anything like that.

00:02:16 Louisa
Better safe than sorry.

00:02:20 Louisa
So when should I think...

00:02:22 Louisa
OK, I need to get a storm water plan.

00:02:23 Greg
Involved so one of the big things is the scale of the project. If the work you're doing costs more than 25% of the market value of your property, then you're going to need a stormwater plan.

00:02:27 Louisa
OK.

00:02:34 Louisa
So we're talking like major renovations, additions.

00:02:37 Greg
Yeah, exactly.

00:02:38 Greg
Stuff.

00:02:39 Greg
Anything involving a new swimming pool.

00:02:41 Louisa
Oh really?

00:02:42 Greg
Yeah, pools change how the water flows across your property. So they always look at that.

00:02:46 Louisa
So it's not just the scale, it's also the...

00:02:49 Greg
Exactly—the type of work you're doing.

00:02:50
Mm.

00:02:52 Greg
And then also they look at driveways and parking areas. So if you're adding a new driveway or parking area or replacing a significant portion, especially for multifamily buildings...

00:02:57 Louisa
OK.

00:03:02
Mm.

00:03:03 Greg
You're going to trigger a closer look at the storm water management.

00:03:07 Louisa
And then starting to see the pattern...

00:03:09 Greg
Yeah.

00:03:09 Louisa
Anything that increases those hard surfaces means water isn’t going to sink in.

00:03:11 Greg
Yes.

00:03:14 Greg
Yeah, we call that impervious surfaces because the water can't go through it—it just runs off, which can cause problems.

00:03:18 Louisa
Makes sense?

00:03:21 Louisa
Let's say a project does check some of those boxes...

00:03:23 Greg
Right.

00:03:23 Louisa
What exactly goes into a stormwater management plan?

00:03:26 Greg
OK, so a stormwater management plan is essentially a blueprint for how water will move on and off your property.

00:03:29 Greg
You'll need some detailed maps showing the slopes of your land.

00:03:35 Louisa
OK.

00:03:35 Greg
So you'll need to show contours so the town can see how your plans fit with natural drainage patterns.

00:03:39 Louisa
Oh wow.

00:03:40 Greg
The contours.

00:03:41 Louisa
OK.

00:03:41 Greg
The town can see how your plans fit with the natural drainage patterns.

00:03:45 Louisa
It's a lot more than just drawing an arrow on a napkin.

00:03:48 Greg
Yeah, it's a lot more complicated than that.

00:03:50 Greg
You also need to document where the water currently goes, both on your property...

00:03:54 Louisa
OK.

00:03:56 Greg
And where it flows onto your neighbor’s property— it’s all about making sure that your project isn't going to create problems for others.

00:03:58 Louisa
Right.

00:04:02 Louisa
It's that good neighbor policy again.

00:04:04 Greg
Exactly. You also need to do soil testing.

00:04:07 Louisa
Soil testing.

00:04:08 Greg
Yeah, because different soils absorb water at different rates.

00:04:11 Louisa
OK.

00:04:11 Greg
So sandy soil is like a sponge—it just soaks it right up.

00:04:13 Greg
And clay is much denser, so knowing what type of soil you have will help you design a system that works.

00:04:20 Louisa
Interesting. So you got to really dig deep, sometimes literally.

00:04:22 Greg
You do.

00:04:23 Greg
You have to dig deep, literally, and you need to map out any existing vegetation because plants play a big role in absorbing water.

00:04:29 Louisa
OK.

00:04:32 Greg
And then you need detailed plans for all the paving and building structures and how you'll control soil erosion during construction.

00:04:37 Louisa
OK.

00:04:39 Louisa
Wow. So it's pretty detailed.

00:04:41 Greg
It is.

00:04:42 Greg
It's very detailed.

00:04:42 Louisa
We're just scratching the surface here in...

00:04:45 Louisa
Part two of our deep.

00:04:46 Louisa
We'll look into what happens after your project is actually...

00:04:50 Louisa
...stay tuned because we're going to get into the long-term responsibilities of stormwater management.

00:04:55 Greg
Sounds good.

00:04:56 Louisa
We'll be right back after a short break.

00:04:59 Louisa
All right, so we're back.

00:05:02 Louisa
And now that we've kind of laid the groundwork of like, OK, when do I need a storm water management plan in Palm Beach...

00:05:07 Greg
Right.

00:05:08 Louisa
What happens once I've got that plan approved and my project’s finished, right?

00:05:11 Greg
So that's where the fun really begins, because it's not just a one-and-done deal.

00:05:15 Greg
You've got to make sure it works properly over the long haul.

00:05:18 Louisa
Right. So it's kind of like building a...

00:05:20 Louisa
You don't just walk away once the roof is on.

00:05:22 Greg
Exactly.

00:05:22 Louisa
There's still work to be done.

00:05:24 Greg
Upkeep—and Palm Beach has a pretty interesting way of making sure that that happens.

00:05:28 Louisa
How so?

00:05:29 Greg
It's called a storm water management agreement.

00:05:31 Louisa
Storm water management agreement. What is that?

00:05:34 Greg
So it's basically a promise that you make as the property owner to maintain that stormwater system you just built.

00:05:36 Louisa
OK.

00:05:41 Louisa
So it's legally binding. I can't just ignore it.

00:05:43 Greg
It is legally binding.

00:05:45 Greg
No, you can't ignore it.

00:05:46 Greg
And it's smart because it also...

00:05:48 Greg
...acts as a notice to any future owners of the property, so they know what they're getting into.

00:05:49 Louisa
OK.

00:05:52 Louisa
OK.

00:05:53 Greg
It's...

00:05:54 Louisa
...but protecting the...

00:05:55 Louisa
...but it's also about protecting your investment in the property.

00:05:58 Greg
Exactly, yeah.

00:05:59 Greg
And to really keep things in check, the agreement requires that a professional engineer certifies that the system is working properly.

00:06:03 Louisa
OK.

00:06:06 Louisa
OK.

00:06:08 Greg
Every five years.

00:06:09 Louisa
So it's like regular checkups.

00:06:11 Greg
It is like a checkup—ensuring everything's good.

00:06:12 Louisa
Catch any problems before they get out of control.

00:06:14 Greg
Exactly.

00:06:15 Louisa
Now we've been talking a lot about the rules and regulations, but there's also this drainage design criteria document.

00:06:22 Greg
Yes.

00:06:22 Louisa
Seems a little more like best practices.

00:06:25 Greg
Right, it is.

00:06:25 Greg
It's kind of like Palm Beach’s guide to keeping the water flowing smoothly.

00:06:29 Louisa
OK.

00:06:30 Greg
So one of the big things they emphasize is meeting the town's stormwater treatment level of service—even if your project didn't require a full-blown management plan.

00:06:32 Louisa
Uh...

00:06:35 Louisa
OK.

00:06:39 Greg
I am.

00:06:39 Louisa
So even for smaller projects, there are still certain standards I need to meet.

00:06:43 Greg
Exactly. And that might mean things like using permeable pavers for your driveway so the water can soak in rather than just running off. That's one example.

00:06:48 Louisa
OK.

00:06:53 Louisa
So even if I don't need the full blueprint, I still need to be thinking about those details.

00:06:57 Louisa
I do.

00:07:03 Greg
And I actually encourage people to be proactive. If you're already having some drainage issues on your property, consider adding...

00:07:09 Greg
...like a rain garden or a dry well to help capture and absorb that excess water.

00:07:12 Louisa
Oh.

00:07:15 Louisa
So it's not just about preventing new problems, it's also about fixing old ones, right?

00:07:19 Greg
It is.

00:07:20 Greg
And those improvements will make a difference—not just for your property, but for your whole neighborhood.

00:07:25 Louisa
Now we've talked about what triggers these regulatory steps, but I think it's important to take a step back and ask: why should people care about all this?

00:07:36 Greg
Yeah, that's the big question, right?

00:07:38 Louisa
Yeah.

00:07:38 Greg
It's easy to get lost in the details and forget about the bigger picture.

00:07:40 Louisa
All right.

00:07:42 Greg
But storm water management is about much more than just following the rules.

00:07:47 Louisa
It's not just about avoiding fines from the town—there are bigger implications here.

00:07:50 Greg
No, that's not it.

00:07:52
There are much bigger implications.

00:07:53 Greg
When stormwater runs off unchecked, it carries all sorts of pollutants with it—fertilizers, pesticides, oil from cars—literally anything on the ground.

00:07:59 Louisa
OK.

00:08:02 Louisa
Right.

00:08:04 Louisa
Right.

00:08:05 Greg
All that stuff ends up in our rivers, our lakes...

00:08:08 Greg
...eventually the ocean.

00:08:09 Louisa
Right.

00:08:10 Louisa
It directly impacts water quality.

00:08:12 Greg
And that affects everyone.

00:08:13 Greg
It can harm wildlife, disrupt ecosystems, even make the water unsafe for swimming or drinking.

00:08:14 Louisa
Yeah, it's not just about me keeping my basement dry.

00:08:17 Greg
Right, exactly. Plus, flooding can be a huge concern in coastal areas like Palm Beach.

00:08:17 Louisa
About the community’s water.

00:08:24 Louisa
Wow, that's a big deal.

00:08:26 Greg
It is a big deal.

00:08:27 Louisa
And then there's also the issue of flooding.

00:08:30 Greg
Yes, which is a huge concern—especially in coastal areas. When drainage systems get overwhelmed, it can cause serious property damage.

00:08:34 Louisa
OK. Yeah.

00:08:40 Greg
And it could be a safety hazard.

00:08:42 Louisa
So good storm water management is really about protecting property and lives.

00:08:47 Greg
It is, and as our climate changes, we're seeing more intense rainfall events. So having these systems in place is going to be even more important in the future.

00:08:55 Louisa
So it's not just about dealing with today's rain. It's about being prepared for whatever's coming.

00:08:57 Greg
No.

00:09:00 Greg
Exactly—by managing storm water, we're not just following rules, we're taking action to protect our environment, our communities, our future.

00:09:03 Greg
...

00:09:05 Louisa
Uh...

00:09:10 Louisa
I like...

00:09:10 Louisa
I like that a lot.

00:09:11 Louisa
So we've talked about the...

00:09:13 Louisa
I think there's one last piece of the puzzle, the money.

00:09:17 Greg
Yes, the cost.

00:09:18 Louisa
Let's talk about the money, because anyhow, we're talking about construction and regulations. Costs are going to be top of mind.

00:09:24 Greg
Absolutely.

00:09:24 Louisa
So in our final part, let's break down some of those potential expenses and see if there are any ways to make things a little easier on the wallet.

00:09:31 Greg
Sounds good.

00:09:32 Louisa
So we're back and it's time to talk about the money part of all this storm water.

00:09:36 Greg
Alright.

00:09:38 Louisa
We talked about why it's important, but let's face it—anytime construction and regulations get involved, people want to know: how much is this going to cost?

00:09:43 Greg
Right.

00:09:45 Louisa
Cost-wise.

00:09:45 Greg
Absolutely.

00:09:46 Louisa
So let's break it down. What are some of the major costs people should be prepared for?

00:09:47 Louisa
First, if you need that formal stormwater management plan, the cost of hiring an engineer is going to be a big factor.

00:09:50 Greg
So if you need that formal stormwater management plan, the first cost is hiring an engineer.

00:09:53 Louisa
Yeah.

00:09:56 Greg
They’re the experts who will assess your property, design the system, and ensure it meets all the requirements.

00:09:58 Louisa
Makes sense.

00:10:01 Greg
Then you have the cost of construction—things like retention ponds, infiltration trenches, or permeable pavers, plus the labor.

00:10:04 Louisa
So it's kind of like hiring an architect, but for water flow.

00:10:07 Greg
Exactly. The costs can vary widely based on project complexity.

00:10:09 Greg
A small project might cost a few thousand dollars, while a large project could be significantly more.

00:10:12 Louisa
Right.

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