Dunwoody continues to address stormwater needs

Dunwoody Public Works Department completed more than 40 projects in 2013 that address the city’s stormwater needs and the city plans to continue its efforts at infrastructure maintenance and upgrades in 2014.

An inventory of every pipe, structure and drain in the city revealed that the average age of the 131 miles of pipe and more than 10,000 structures within the city is 40 to 50 years. The majority of this infrastructure is made of corrugated metal pipe, which has exceeded its useful life in many cases, according to city officials.

“The city has made important steps to not only being a good steward of water resources but also see to the needs of our aging infrastructure,” said Bob Mullen, Dunwoody’s public relations director. “In the city’s short five years of operation since incorporation, the staff has taken on the challenge of assessing and maintaining our city’s stormwater system.”

In 2013, the city completed a number of larger projects, including 26 replacements, 12 cast in place repairs, eight detention pond renovations and 11 engineering studies. This included repairing rusted portions of the system. The city also responded to more than 100 resident service requests, resulting in 193 completed work orders by maintenance crews.

The city is currently addressing repairs and replacements to damaged stormwater pipes and has three to five years’ worth of projects lined up and prioritized.

“As the city paves a road, it also uses a remote camera to survey damaged stormwater pipes in the area to determine the need for repair or replacement,” Mullen said. “Throughout 2014 the stormwater team will work through prioritized projects which are in most need of repair and replacement and with more than 130 miles of pipe and 10,000 structures the crews are sure to be busy for some time to come.”

The city has also connected with residents and volunteers to help address key stormwater education and improvements through special events and programs, including a stream cleanup program as well as a recent storm drain marking effort. To help address the need to educate and inform the community, volunteers from IHG Worldwide Sales placed “No Dumping ‒ Drains to Stream” medallions on storm drains in several Dunwoody neighborhoods.

Stormwater in Dunwoody is discharged directly into the creeks, rivers and streams. Each time it rains, water washes over streets, driveways and yards picking up pollutants along the way and flows into the storm drains.

“This educational effort helps make people aware of the dangers of dumping oil, leaves, grass clippings, pet waste or other garbage into our storm drainage system,” Mullen said.