The Pella City Council discussed stormwater issues in the community at their regular meeting Tuesday. During policy and planning following regular business, the council talked about some main locations of concern, as according to a staff memo, there are several developments that have very little–if any, storm sewer infrastructure to handle large rain events, which typically adds to the problem of street flooding and basement back-ups. Without the appropriate storm sewer available, property owners with the proper plumbing just recycle the water in their yard or into the street.

The city has increased the capacity in the sanitary sewer system by adding pumping stations, force mains, and large detention areas, which has allowed the city to increase the amount of stormwater transported to the city’s wastewater treatment plant. However, adding additional capacity is not a preferred long-term solution by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Since 2002, new subdivisions have been required to provide areas for stormwater detention. In addition, since 2007, the city has required eight-inch secondary storm sewers in all new subdivisions, including individual sump pump drain line services to each lot.

The council may consider two main projects that could address at least some of the issues — upgrades to infrastructure along University Street, which would cost the city $3 million and could homeowners between $3,000 and $15,000 to connect to, but would construct a new storm sewer system where one does not exist, as well as upgrades to the intersection of Main and Independence, which has an estimated price tag of $3.5 to $4.5 million.