The District has a tremendous responsibility in the proper management of a large volume of stormwater runoff. Each year the District receives, on average, 60 inches of rain. It is important to manage the flow of this volume of water through the District's canals for maximum protection and benefit to property owners. The District's surface water management system is designed, operated and maintained for a mostly rural residential community with some commercial, industrial and urban residential areas. South Indian River Water Control District is responsible for maintaining over 376 miles of swales and canals.

The drainage system, maintained by South Indian River Water Control District, operates by gravity flow. First the water flows from impervious surfaces such as roofs, driveways and roadways into ponds, natural depressions and swales. This initial drainage is referred to as the "tertiary" system. Any stormwater that is not held by the swales and absorbed into the ground, moves eastward across the District through a network of maintained canals and is known as the "secondary" drainage system. The final movement of the water is into the "primary" drainage system that consists of larger canals, such as the C-18, and the Loxahatchee River. The primary drainage system is the responsibility of the South Florida Water Management District. 

It is important to understand that after heavy periods of rain it is normal for water to remain standing in the swales. This is the way the system is designed to function and allows for natural infiltration into the soils below to help filter pollutants and recharge groundwater. Standing water can occur when the ground becomes saturated and cannot absorb any more water. Continued development of low-lying areas of the District will result in reduced storage capacity within the District's watershed and thereby increases stormwater runoff. Every effort is made to conserve the stormwater runoff generated from rainstorms by directing its flow into the natural holding areas in and around the District, such as the Loxahatchee Slough, water catchment areas, natural areas, and wetlands.

Even with the heavy amounts of rain, such as the Thanksgiving week storm in 1995 where the District experienced over 20 inches of rain, as well as multiple hurricanes that impacted our area over the years, the system has functioned well. The 1995 storm produced a higher level of rainfall than is normally anticipated in a 100-year storm, which is what the system was designed to handle.

For more information on stormwater including South Florida Water Management District links, tips on what you can do to reduce runoff and improve water quality, the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, Environmental Protection Agency guidance and much more, click on the Resources tab above and select one of the Stormwater Information links listed.